Simona Halep powers into China Open final, becomes World No 1

Simona Halep beat Jelena Ostapenko to enter China Open final in Beijing, ousting Spaniard Garbine Muguruza from the top of WTA rankings

Simona Halep surged to number one in the world for the first time and into the final of the China Open as she beat Latvia’s Jelena Ostapenko 6-2, 6-4.

Simona Halep of Romania celebrates after winning her women's singles semifinal match against Jelena Ostapenko of Latvia at the China Open tennis tournament in Beijing on Saturday. (AFP)

The Romanian’s ousting of Spaniard Garbine Muguruza at the top of the women’s game will be officially confirmed next week when the latest rankings are released.

For Halep, who went into the semi-final on Beijing’s outdoor hard courts as world number two, victory was revenge after Ostapenko won their duel in the French Open final earlier this year.

She was always in control against the world number eight Ostapenko and put herself on the way to victory when she broke the talented 20-year-old in the first game of the first set.

Halep, the latest player to take the hot seat at the top of the women’s game this year with Serena Williams becoming a mother, saw off former number one Maria Sharapova earlier this week in Beijing.