The number one seed set up a final with the number two seed Anett Kontaveit after easing past her Ukrainian opponent in two sets.
Simona Halep is into the finals of the Transylvania Open after beating the world number 55 Marta Kostyuk in straight sets 6-0, 6-1 in one hour and two minutes, hitting 10 winners while the Ukrainian hit 38 unforced errors.
Halep dominated the match from start to finish and will now play a final in her home tournament, where she has a chance to win a title on home soil.
“I didn’t expect to play a final this year, it was a tough year but I worked hard and I was happy on the court and when you are in a good mood you play better.”
The world number 18 started the match breaking in the first game and turned that break into a double break to take a 3-0 lead. Kostyuk after that called for the trainer and took a medical timeout for a right hamstring injury.
The Ukrainian had her right thigh heavily taped but it didn’t seem to work as the Romanian broke her again and served out the set in only just 28 minutes on the clock.
The first two games of the second set went on serve before the world number 18 once again got the early break and continued to dominate getting another break of serve and serving out the match.
After the match, she was asked what it would mean to lift the title in her home tournament and she knows it won’t be an easy match against the number two seed Anett Kontaveit.
“Of course it will be amazing if I can win the title but it’s going to be a tough match and I don’t expect anything I just want to give my best to win the match.”
Halep currently leads the head-to-head 3-0 with their most previous meeting at the Australian Open in 2020 with the Romanian winning in straight sets.
