Halep - Pennetta 6-3, 7-5,  si  Simona  merge   în sferturile  turneului    de  la Miami., unde  o  va  intilni  pe  americanca Sloane Stephens  ( 22  de ani , locul 45 WTA ).         

     Succes  Simona  !

Flavia Pennetta had beaten Simona Halep in all three of their previous meetings, but Halep finally got the better of the Italian this time. A WTA Rising Star is up next.

Simona Halep regrouped from a hefty second set deficit to close Flavia Pennetta out in straight sets and snap up the eighth and final berth in the quarterfinals of the Miami Open.

Watch highlights, interviews and more video from Miami right here on wtatennis.com!

Halep had lost all three of her previous meetings with Pennetta, and the last two weren't even that long ago - they came in the summer of 2013, when Halep was making her initial push towards the top.

But the No.3-seeded Halep was just too tough on the big points this time, getting the lone break of the first set to get a one set lead and then pulling off an inspired comeback - she won 10 points in a row at one point - to come back from 5-2 down in the second set and close the match out, 6-3, 7-5.

"It was a very tough match. She's a great player," Halep said. "In the second set I was down 5-2, and I was playing badly, so I knew I just had to cool down and start playing more aggressively and hit the ball deeper. I did that when I went back on court. I tried everything and finally I was able to win."

Halep was asked how she managed to put her history against the Italian behind her for this one.

"I remember one match against her at the US Open, when she beat me in the fourth round," Halep said. "It was a tough match there. I was very disappointed when I lost that match. She hits very strong, and it's difficult for me to play her. But there I was more behind the court; now I'm more aggressive.

"I have more confidence now. I believe much more in my chances now."

Halep's win over Pennetta was her 23rd WTA-level match win of the year, which ties her for most on the tour with WTA Rising Star Karolina Pliskova, who also made it through to the quarterfinals here.

Awaiting Halep in her quarterfinal match is another WTA Rising Star, Sloane Stephens, who outdid Belinda Bencic earlier in the day, rallying from 5-3 down in the second set to prevail, 6-4, 7-6(5).

"I thought both of us played really well off the ground," Stephens commented. "She's a really great player, so it was going to be tough for me, but I thought overall we both played a really great match.

"The second set was a little bumpy back and forth, but I was able to find my way back."

Halep and Stephens are tied in their head-to-head series, 2-2.

**  WTA