World No. 5 Simona Halep downed Madison Keys in the quarterfinals of the Wuhan Open Thursday to book her place in the elite season-end WTA Final for the third consecutive year. Big serving Keys took an early lead in the first set, breaking the Romanian's serve twice, but was unable to maintain the momentum as Halep equaled and then took the set 6-4. Halep — who turned 25 this week — dropped just two games to take the second set and confirm her place in the eight-player season finale in Singapore. Only world No. 1 Angelique Kerber and Serena Williams have so far qualified for the highly lucrative tournament, and the field remains wide open for the remaining five spots. "It's amazing to be qualified again for Singapore three years in a row. It's a good thing. It gives me confidence," Halep told reporters after the quarterfinal match. With Williams having taken only one Grand Slam title this year and slipped from her long-held No. 1 spot in the rankings, Halep said earlier this week that she feels she now has a shot at the top. "Every Grand Slam was another winner, Kerber two times this year. I feel now (it) is more open. I feel that I have (a) bigger chance," said the Romanian, who ended last season as world No. 2 but is yet to win a Slam. Halep will meet two-time Wimbledon champion Petra Kvitova in the semifinals after she ended a strong run by Briton Johanna Konta in straight sets 6-3, 6-4. Meanwhile, Russia's Svetlana Kuznetsova squashed Agnieszka Radwanska's hopes of qualifying for Singapore this week when she came from a set down to win 1-6, 7-6 (11/9), 6-4 and set up a semifinal meet with Dominika Cibulkova, who beat Barbora Strycova 6-3, 3-6, 6-4. Berdych in Shenzhen quarters Defending champion Tomas Berdych advanced to the quarterfinals of the Shenzhen Open by beating Mikhail Kukushkin of Kazakhstan 7-6 (7), 7-6 (4) Thursday. The top-seeded Czech is trying to reach his first final of the season. Also, Bernard Tomic defeated Ryan Harrison 6-4, 4-6, 7-5, Thomaz Bellucci beat Thomas Fabbiano 7-6 (2), 7-6 (4), and eighth-seeded Jiri Vesely eliminated Inigo Cervantes 7-6 (2), 6-3. Zverev set for Hopman Cup Rising German star Alexander Zverev, fresh from conquering US Open champion Stan Wawrinka, will play for Germany in the mixed-teams Hopman Cup in Perth in January, organizers said Thursday. The 19-year-old, ranked 24, will partner Andrea Petkovic in the German team for the Jan. 1-7 event. Roger Federer has already been confirmed for the tournament, partnering fellow Swiss Belinda Bencic. The other confirmed teams are the Czech Republic (Adam Pavlasek and Petra Kvitova) and the United States (Jack Sock and Coco Vandeweghe). Kerber to play Brisbane World No. 1 and two-time Grand Slam champion Angelique Kerber will return to the Brisbane International to launch her 2017 tour campaign, tournament organizers said Thursday. Kerber will be joined in the Brisbane women's draw by world No. 3 and reigning French Open champion Garbine Muguruza. The Brisbane International takes place from Jan. 1-8. — Agencies
