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Halep cruises past Kontaveit to set up Australian Open semi with Muguruza

Simona Halep eased into the Australian Open semi-finals in less than an hour as she thrashed Anet...



Halep cruises past Kontaveit t...
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Halep cruises past Kontaveit to set up Australian Open semi with Muguruza

Simona Halep eased into the Australian Open semi-finals in less than an hour as she thrashed Anett Kontaveit.

The Estonian won the opening game before the Wimbledon champion claimed 11 in a row to put her on the brink of victory - eventually triumphing 6-1, 6-1.

Halep will play Garbine Muguruza after the Spaniard beat Russia's Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova in straight sets.

2016 French Open and 2017 Wimbledon champion Muguruza is unseeded in Melbourne and the Spaniard says it's been a battle to get back to that level:

"I think the toughest moment is when you work hard, work like before, or even harder, and you don't feel like results are coming fast. Athletes sometimes can get a little bit desperate, get too impatient about it.

"It's very tough to be for so many years in the top of the game, being that consistent. I feel like it's something super hard to do. Barely few players can hold that for many, many years in a row.

"You just have to be patient and go through the rough moments, just hang in there and it will come back again.

"I think once you have done it, it definitely gives you a certain confidence that you can handle two weeks' competition, grand slam, playing many matches.

"Not a lot of people can say that they have done it. In my case, I know it's where I feel the most motivated. I just don't think too much about it. I'm just happy to be here, excited to see how far I can go."

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