Haleps Hands Venus A Loss In Miami, Andreescu Retires; QFs Begin Tuesday

Simona Halep upended Venus Williams four a fourth straight time Monday Miami, besting the 7-time Slam winners 6-3, 6-3 to advance to the quarterfinals.

Halep led early and was never threatened by the former Miami champion.

“In previous matches she hit the ball very strong, and also the serve today was a little bit different,” Halep said. “At one point she was playing very high, and it was not easy. But I just had to adjust myself to the game, and I think I did it pretty well.”

The Romanian will be off the singles court today in preparation for the Wang Qiang in the quarterfinals.

The torrid run of Canadian teen Bianca Andreescu came to an end due to a shoulder injury. The 18-year-old was down 6-1, 2-0 to Anett Kontaveit when Andreescu threw in the towel and put an end to a 10-match win streak.

“I tried to get as much treatment as I can. I thought it would be okay, but obviously it just got worse as the match progressed,” Andreescu said.

“I have played so many matches. I guess this is just a way of my body telling me that it’s had enough. The physios and the doctor said that it’s nothing too serious, but the pain is there, and I couldn’t continue today.”

For a spot in the semis, Kontaveit will now face Su-Wei Hsieh who backed up her upset win over Naomi Osaka but bouncing former finalist Caroline Wozniacki 6-3, 6-7(0), 6-2.

Two Czechs will collide today in the quarterfinals. Surging teen Marketa Vondrousova advanced over Tatjana Maria 6-4, 6-3 while Karolina Pliskova held on for a tough 2-6, 6-3, 7-5 victory over Yulia Putintseva.

“I played with [Vondrousova] in Fed Cup, we never played each other in a tournament,” said Pliskova. “I think she’s playing amazing right now. It’s going to be similar — actually, I’m not having any opponents which are doing mistakes, so everything I have to work for. It’s going to be the same.”

Also, Petra Kvitova rolled past Caroline Garcia 6-3, 6-3 in a rain-interrupted affair. She’ll now get Ash Barty today after the Australian eliminated Kiki Bertens 4-6, 6-3, 6-2.

On Saturday, the tournament will crown a new women’s champion. And Kvitova and Halep are still both in the chase for the No. 1 ranking.