Halep warms up for Australian Open with Shenzhen title win

World No 1 Simona Halep continued her preparation for the Australian Open by lifting the Shenzhen Open title after a 6-1 2-6 6-0 victory over holder Katerina Siniakova Saturday. In a rain-delayed match that was moved to the indoor court, Romanian Halep got off to a flying start and did not face a single break point as she easily won the first set. Czech Siniakova, 21, fought back to take the second set as Halep appeared to lose focus but the top seed regained her composure to break the Czech's serve three times in the third set and seal a comfortable win.

Thank you @ShenzhenOpenWTA for a wonderful week. A really big thank you to my doubles partner @irina_begu ? and to my team ??? Great way to start 2018. Melbourne next stop ? pic.twitter.com/gREMMK5OKi

— Simona Halep (@Simona_Halep) January 6, 2018

The success will be a boost for Halep, whose last triumph was at the Madrid Open last May, with the 26-year-old among the favourites to win her maiden grand slam title at this month's Australian Open. With holder Serena Williams having withdrawn from the first grand slam of the year, Halep and Ukraine's Elina Svitolina, who won the Brisbane International title Saturday, have made strong statements ahead of the event, which begins next Monday.