(Reuters) - A dominant Serena Williams proved far too strong for defending champion Simona Halep as the American eased into the semi-finals of the BNP Paribas Open with a 6-4 6-3 victory on Wednesday.
The world number one has yet to drop a set in four matches in California, and Williams made a tricky opponent on paper look completely over-matched in the quarter-final encounter.
The 21-time grand slam champion blasted 28 winners to Halep's nine. She also recorded seven aces, aptly closing out the match with an unreturnable serve down the middle.
Williams also broke the Romanian's serve four times and improved her head-to-head record to 7-1 against her fifth-seeded opponent.