Halep outlasts Kerber in thriller to reach final

World No 1 Simona Halep quelled a tenacious Angelique Kerber fightback and saved two match point to reach her first Australian Open final with a 6-3 4-6 9-7 victory in a compelling scrap on Rod Laver Arena Thursday. A wildly unpredictable match veered one way, then the other, before Halep finally broke Kerber's resistance to claim victory on her fourth match point when her exhausted opponent fired a backhand over the baseline. When Halep won the first five games it seemed the expected battle royal between two of the game's most ferocious competitor would turn into a damp squib.

?? Absolutely stunning match! ??@Simona_Halep triumphs over Kerber 6-3, 4-6, 9-7 to reach the #AusOpen final! pic.twitter.com/HeHUujISN9

— WTA (@WTA) January 25, 2018

But Kerber roared back and had two match point at 6-5 in a brutal deciding set before Halep turned it around with some brave hitting to seal victory in two hours and 20 minutes. The 26-year-old plays Caroline Wozniacki in Saturday's final when both players will be gunning for their first grand slam title and the world No 1 ranking.