Bertens prevails over Stephens to return to Madrid final

On Friday, Kiki Bertens returned to the Madrid final after posting a 6-2, 7-5 win over Sloane Stephens.

Bertens came out flying, dictating play with her power game. Stephens made an effort to extend her time on the court by jumping ahead in the second set, but it wasn't meant to be as the Dutchwoman fended her off.

In the quarterfinals, Bertens dethroned defending champion Petra Kvitova, avenging her loss to the Czech in last year's championship match in Madrid. She will face off against Simona Halep for the title. The No. 3-seeded Halep prevailed over Belinda Bencic, 6-2, 6-7 (2), 6-0, earlier today. The Romanian has won the Madrid title twice, in 2016 and 2017. Halep leads her head-to-head series against Bertens 3-2, but the No. 7 seed won their last meeting, in Cincinnati last season.