Halep in 'a good spot' as she sets up last-16 Cornet clash
-
Hotel Blacklist Launches New Accommodation Industry Risk Assessment Tool
-
Messi says Argentina retirement is 'saddest day of my career'
-
Bangladesh nuclear plant draws hope -- and worry
-
Oil rises and stocks fall as Hormuz worries flare
-
US beat Canada 1-0 to wrap up four-win international break
-
Pacific presses world for help 'surviving' climate change at pre-COP summit
-
Turkey, Australia's joint COP31 leadership raises doubts
-
Verstappen revival to be put to the test in steamy Singapore
-
For Turkish NGOs, COP31 offers rare space for action
-
US woman who survived botched execution is conscious, speaking: lawyers
-
Sleep, appetite, gene-editing experts contend for Nobel chemistry prize
-
Climate champion Australia digging more coal
-
Nobel Peace Prize haunted by the 'spectre' of Trump
-
Emotion, tears as Messi retires from Argentina national team
-
Africa launches own credit agency in bid for cheaper borrowing
-
Dodgers push Braves to the brink of MLB playoff exit
-
US, China, EU: three paths to regulating AI
-
Crisis-stricken Haiti postpones elections
-
Australia's High Court rules against coal mine in landmark climate case
-
N. Korea's Kim pledges 'invariable support' in Putin birthday letter
-
Australia touts new funds for Pacific infrastructure at Fiji 'pre-COP'
-
OGRD Alliance Advances PLPC Multi-Asset Platform Following APHELAR Milestone, Expanding Licensing and Strategic Capital Frameworks
-
Eva Marie Saint, Oscar winner of Hollywood classics, dies at 102
-
Emotion, tears as Messi prepares for Argentina farewell
-
Australia probes app used in cheap smart glasses over privacy fears
-
Kane eyes Ronaldo record after matching England cap mark
-
England needed to 'move on' from World Cup pain, says Tuchel
-
Spain fight back to beat Croatia, Kane adds to record for England
-
O'Neill to stay at Celtic after period of "reflection"
-
Merino double helps Spain beat Croatia, reach Nations League quarters
-
Kane marks 125th England cap with Wembley Nations League double
-
US stocks hit fresh records as oil stabilizes on rising supplies
-
Quebec's incoming separatist leader wants to block Crown from swearing-in
-
As Messi bows out, Argentines say 'thank you'
-
Emmys gala will now stream its premier television awards
-
Ronaldo opens door for Portugal return, apologises for walkout
-
Paramount completes Warner Bros takeover, creating Skydance
-
'Nobody seems to care': Russian city shrugs off plague reports
-
Trump blames France unrest on Islam, migration
-
Hundreds arrested in French school protests as Macron summons ministers
-
Apple's Cook praises EU over efforts to protect children online
-
WADA seeks tough anti-doping stance from Kenya
-
Nobel winner Halzen says years of October 'misery' finally over
-
German ex-spy chief arrested for suspected espionage, treason
-
Quebec separatist win rattles Carney's unity push
-
Furyk vows US will 'do more' to end Ryder Cup losing streak
-
'Itching' for change: Shiffrin cuts back slaloms this season
-
Iyer hits ton as India hammer West Indies in T20 opener
-
'Gen Z has risen up': Tens of thousands mass for tense France school protests
-
Mandhana named India women's team captain after Kaur quits
Halep in 'a good spot' as she sets up last-16 Cornet clash
Fit-again Simona Halep said she was in "a good spot" and feeling no pressure as she stepped up a level to crush the Australian Open dreams of Emma Raducanu's conqueror Danka Kovinic and power into the last 16 on Saturday.
The two-time Grand Slam winner drew on all her experience to sweep past the 98th-ranked Montenegrin 6-2, 6-1 and ensure her participation in the second week for a fifth consecutive year in Melbourne.
She will now play French veteran Alize Cornet, who celebrated her 32nd birthday by beating 29th seed Tamara Zidansek 4-6, 6-4, 6-2 on the back of her stunning upset of world number three Garbine Muguruza in round two.
The Romanian Halep is on her way back after a calf tear scuttled her mid-season in 2021 and saw her briefly fall outside the top 20 for the first time since 2013.
"I feel great physically, first of all. Mentally I'm confident and also strong, I would say," said the 30-year-old as she targets a first title at Melbourne Park, having lost to Caroline Wozniacki in the 2018 final.
"I'm feeling the game, feeling joy out there. I think that helps me to be positive and to be confident that I have a chance every time I step on the court.
"I feel I'm in a good spot. I really trust that I can play good tennis here. I feel that the pressure is off."
Halep came into the tournament buoyant after her first title in 16 months at the Melbourne Summer Set and was always in charge against Kovinic, who upset US Open champion Raducanu in round two.
Seeded 14, Halep has been in good form this week, dropping just nine games in her opening two matches, and carried that into her clash against the 27-year-old Kovinic.
She raced through the first set and broke early again in the second to steamroll through to a showdown with Cornet, who battled back from a set down in her match.
"It was mostly about survival," said Cornet, who is appearing in her 60th consecutive Grand Slam main draw, the WTA's longest active streak and third longest in history.
"It's definitely a very, very special victory being back in the second week 13 years after my first second week at the Australian Open. It's quite special.
"The day of my birthday, I mean, what else can I ask for?"
O.Salim--SF-PST
