Halep becomes the first 2019 Madrid semifinalist with win over Barty

On Thursday, Simona Halep avenged her Sydney loss to Ashleigh Barty by overcoming the Aussie in the Madrid quarterfinal, 7-5, 7-5.

Down a break in the late stages of the second set, Barty made a mini comeback by breaking Halep. But it wasn't enough to send the match to a deciding set as she was broken once more, in the 11th game. Halep has now won three of their four meetings.

Later this month, the 27-year-old Romanian will aim to defend her French Open title for her second Grand Slam. She's always played well in the French capital, reaching the finals in 2014 and 2017 before hoisting the trophy in 2018.

"The two-time Madrid champion will play either top-seeded Naomi Osaka or Dubai champion Belinda Bencic. Halep leads Osaka 4-1 in their head-to-head, and trails Bencic 2-1. It's worth noting that Halep and Osaka haven't met since the world No. 1 won her maiden Grand Slam at the 2018 US Open."