Jelena Ostapenko fights back to reach Dubai final

Jelena Ostapenko came back from a set down for a third consecutive match as she overcame former world number one Simona Halep 2-6, 7-6 (7/0), 6-0 to reach the final of the WTA event in Dubai on Friday.

The Latvian, who knocked out sixth seed Iga Swiatek in the second round and saved a match point before ousting Petra Kvitova in the quarter-finals, will take on Russian world number 31 Veronika Kudermetova in Saturday's title decider.

Kudermetova moved into the final without hitting a ball after her semi-final opponent Marketa Vondrousova was forced to withdraw, citing a right adductor injury.

“The injury, it started a few days ago and I've played so many matches here which has aggravated the injury,” the Czech left-hander said.

“I'm really sad to leave the tournament this way but I've still enjoyed a great week and I'm proud of how I've played.”

Ostapenko has knocked out four Grand Slam champions en route to the final and denied Halep a shot at claiming a third Dubai crown.

The 2017 French Open winner is through to the 11th final of her career, where she will be looking to clinch her first hard-court title since 2019.

Simona Halep of Romania stretches to reach the ball. Getty Images

“Playing a Grand Slam champion fourth match in a row, it's not easy,” said the 24-year-old.

“Just happy with the way I was fighting. When things didn't go my way because I felt a little bit exhausted in the beginning, I needed time to just maybe get warmer and, yeah, just managed to win the match.”

It was the third meeting between the pair and the first since 2017, when an unseeded Ostapenko shocked Halep in the Roland Garros final — after trailing the Romanian by a set and a break — before Halep avenged that defeat in Beijing a few months