Simona Halep downs Jessica Pegula to reach Canadian Open final

Pegula put pressure on Halep's serve at the outset of the match and wrapped up the 35-minute first set with an ace. But a loose service game early in the second set, capped by a unforced backhand error, gave the Romanian two-time Grand Slam champion a 3-1 lead as frustration began to mount in her less experienced opponent.

Halep broke at love for a 3-2 lead in the third set and hung on to claim her 37th victory of the year despite producing 10 double faults and putting less than 60% of her first serves into play. Big-serving Czech Pliskova and unseeded Brazilian Haddad Maia play their semifinal later on Saturday.