CoCo Vandeweghe stuns Simona Halep to advance to Stuttgart Open tennis semis

Coco Vandeweghe defeated world number one Simona Halep in straight sets 6-4, 6-1 on Friday to reach the semi-finals of the Stuttgart Open tennis tournament.

CoCo Vandeweghe knocked another big name out of the Stuttgart Open on Friday, as she stunned top seed Simona Halep 6-4, 6-1.(AFP)

American CoCo Vandeweghe shocked world number one Simona Halep in straight sets on Friday to move into the semi-finals of the Porsche Tennis Grand Prix in Stuttgart.

Vandeweghe, who won 6-4 6-1 in an hour and 14 minutes, fired five aces and 19 winners to exert her dominance in the claycourt event despite previously stating her dislike for the surface.

U.S. Open semi-finalist Vandeweghe raced to a 5-4 lead in the opening set on the back of her strong service game. The 26-year-old then sealed a decisive break to clinch the first set and gain the upper hand in the contest.

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Despite stepping up her attack, Romania’s Halep struggled to find a way past her opponent who cruised through the second set to reach the last four of a claycourt event for the first time.

Vandeweghe next takes on sixth seed Caroline Garcia who later overcame Ukraine’s Elina Svitolina 6-7(4) 6-4 6-2 in two hours and 16 minutes.