18 March,2016 08:28 AM IST | | AFP
World No 1 Serena Williams lauds defending champion Simona Halep, who she stunned 6-4, 6-3 to enter semi-finals of Indian Wells
Serena Williams
Indian Wells (United States): Serena Williams dethroned defending champion Simona Halep in straight sets to set up an Indian Wells semi-final showdown between the World No 1 and 2. Williams reached just her second semis in 15 years by beating Halep 6-4, 6-3 on Wednesday.
Serena Williams. Pics/AFP
"She's a dangerous player," Williams said of Halep. "She knows what it takes to beat the best player so I knew I had to play as best as I could."
Williams advances to face Agnieszka Radwanska, who has never beaten Williams in nine career matches.
Simona Halep reacts after her defeat
Fifth seeded Halep was the one who helped spoil Williams' much-anticipated return to the WTA and ATP Tour tournament last year, winning their semi-final in a walkover after Williams pulled out right before the match with a knee injury.
Halep went on to beat Jelena Jankovic in the final. Radwanska defeated Petra Kvitova 6-2, 7-6 (7/3) in their quarter-final, but the win had an added bonus as she went past Angelique Kerber into the World No 2 spot.
