Shenzhen Open News
Sharapova struggled to move on the court and conceded the opening set 6-1, with coach Thomas Hogstedt urging the Russian to take her game to the next level or call for a medical timeout.
The 26-year-old Halep is guaranteed top seeding for the Australian Open, the season`s first Grand Slam, which begins in Melbourne on January 15.
World number one Simona Halep of Romania tamed compatriot Irina-Camelia Begu in straight sets to reach the final of the Shenzhen Open in China on Friday.
Former world number one Maria Sharapova cruised past Kazakhstan`s Zarina Diyas and into the semi-finals of the Shenzhen Open in China on Thursday.
World number one Simona Halep assured herself of top billing for the Australian Open after powering past local hope Duan Yingying and into the quarter-finals of the Shenzhen Open in China on Wednesday.
Number two seed Ostapenko of Latvia lost to the big-serving Czech Krystina Pliskova 6-1, 6-4 in just an hour and 20 minutes.
Halep will next face China's Duan Yingying while Sharapova will play American Alison Riske in the second round.
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