Australian Open: Simona Halep cruises past Venus to set Serena clash!

.

The Romanian had a clear edge on the court, finishing the match with 21 winners and just 12 unforced errors, efficiently covering the baseline and drawing 33 unforced errors from Venus who lost almost half of the points in her games.

Simona created ten break points and she converted five to stay in front all the time, dropping serve only once from six opportunities she gave to Williams to march into the last 16 where she will face her sister Serena! Venus managed to save early break points before falling 3-2 down when Halep placed a backhand crosscourt winner in game five to draw first blood.

The Romanian fends off four break points in game six and she found herself 5-2 up after another break in game seven when Venus hit a forehand long. Serving for the set in the following game, Simona saved a break point and the opener was in her hands after a forehand down the line winner that sent her 6-2 up.

Williams got broken at the start of the second set as well before pulling the break back immediately thanks to a rare backhand error from Simona. The veteran saved two break points in the third game to stay on the positive side of the scoreboard but that didnt last for long, with Halep earning a break at 15 at 3-3 with a forced error that propelled her closer to the finish line.

She held in the next game with some stellar backhands on the board and it was all over when Venus dropped serve again in game nine after a return down the line winner from the Romanian who was thrilled with the way she performed in this match, hoping for more of the same against Serena too.

<table