Halep in 'a good spot' as she sets up last-16 Cornet clash
-
Stocks rise on bank earnings, auto tariff hopes
-
Trump showdown with courts in spotlight at migrant hearing
-
Ecuador electoral council rejects claims of fraud in presidential vote
-
Russia jails four journalists who covered Navalny
-
Trump says China 'reneged' on Boeing deal as tensions flare
-
Trump eyes near 50 percent cut in State Dept budget: US media
-
Trump says would 'love' to send US citizens to El Salvador jail
-
'Unprecedented' Europe raids net 200 arrests, drugs haul
-
Everyone thinks Real Madrid comeback 'nailed-on': Bellingham
-
NATO's Rutte says US-led Ukraine peace talks 'not easy'
-
Harvey Weinstein New York retrial for sex crimes begins
-
More than 10% of Afghans could lose healthcare by year-end: WHO
-
Stocks rise as auto shares surge on tariff break hopes
-
Facebook chief Zuckerberg testifying again in US antitrust trial
-
Pakistan court refuses to hear Baloch activist case: lawyers
-
Inzaghi pushing Inter to end San Siro hoodoo with Bayern and reach Champions League semis
-
Arsenal's Odegaard can prove point on Real Madrid return
-
China's Xi begins Malaysia visit in shadow of Trump tariffs
-
Andrew Tate accusers suing for 'six-figure' sum, UK court hears
-
Macron to honour craftspeople who rebuilt Notre Dame
-
Van der Poel E3 'spitter' facing fine
-
Khamenei says Iran-US talks going well but may lead nowhere
-
Nearly 60,000 Afghans return from Pakistan in two weeks: IOM
-
Auto shares surge on tariff reprieve hopes
-
Sudan war drains life from once-thriving island in capital's heart
-
Trump trade war casts pall in China's southern export heartland
-
Ukraine's Sumy prepares to bury victims of 'bloody Sunday'
-
Iraq sandstorm closes airports, puts 3,700 people in hospital
-
French prisons targeted with arson, gunfire: ministry
-
Pandemic treaty talks inch towards deal
-
Employee dead, client critical after Paris cryotherapy session goes wrong
-
Howe will only return to Newcastle dugout when '100 percent' ready
-
Journalist recalls night Mario Vargas Llosa punched Gabriel Garcia Marquez
-
Sudan marks two years of war with no end in sight
-
Vance urges Europe not to be US 'vassal'
-
China tells airlines to suspend Boeing jet deliveries: report
-
Stocks rise as stability returns, autos surge on exemption hope
-
Harvard sees $2.2bn funding freeze after defying Trump
-
'Tough' Singapore election expected for non-Lee leader
-
Japan orders Google to cease alleged antitrust violation
-
Stocks rise as stability returns, autos lifted by exemption hope
-
Malawi's debt crisis deepens as aid cuts hurt
-
Danish brewer adds AI 'colleagues' to human team
-
USAID cuts rip through African health care systems
-
Arsenal target Champions League glory to save season
-
Kane and Bayern need killer instinct with home final at stake
-
Mbappe leading Real Madrid comeback charge against Arsenal
-
S. Korea plans extra $4.9 bn help for chips amid US tariff anxiety
-
Xi's Vietnam trip aiming to 'screw' US, says Trump
-
Iran's top diplomat to visit Russia after US nuclear talks
NYSE - LSE
Halep in 'a good spot' as she sets up last-16 Cornet clash
Fit-again Simona Halep said she was in "a good spot" and feeling no pressure as she stepped up a level to crush the Australian Open dreams of Emma Raducanu's conqueror Danka Kovinic and power into the last 16 on Saturday.
The two-time Grand Slam winner drew on all her experience to sweep past the 98th-ranked Montenegrin 6-2, 6-1 and ensure her participation in the second week for a fifth consecutive year in Melbourne.
She will now play French veteran Alize Cornet, who celebrated her 32nd birthday by beating 29th seed Tamara Zidansek 4-6, 6-4, 6-2 on the back of her stunning upset of world number three Garbine Muguruza in round two.
The Romanian Halep is on her way back after a calf tear scuttled her mid-season in 2021 and saw her briefly fall outside the top 20 for the first time since 2013.
"I feel great physically, first of all. Mentally I'm confident and also strong, I would say," said the 30-year-old as she targets a first title at Melbourne Park, having lost to Caroline Wozniacki in the 2018 final.
"I'm feeling the game, feeling joy out there. I think that helps me to be positive and to be confident that I have a chance every time I step on the court.
"I feel I'm in a good spot. I really trust that I can play good tennis here. I feel that the pressure is off."
Halep came into the tournament buoyant after her first title in 16 months at the Melbourne Summer Set and was always in charge against Kovinic, who upset US Open champion Raducanu in round two.
Seeded 14, Halep has been in good form this week, dropping just nine games in her opening two matches, and carried that into her clash against the 27-year-old Kovinic.
She raced through the first set and broke early again in the second to steamroll through to a showdown with Cornet, who battled back from a set down in her match.
"It was mostly about survival," said Cornet, who is appearing in her 60th consecutive Grand Slam main draw, the WTA's longest active streak and third longest in history.
"It's definitely a very, very special victory being back in the second week 13 years after my first second week at the Australian Open. It's quite special.
"The day of my birthday, I mean, what else can I ask for?"
E.Flores--AT