Halep seals semis spot

Singapore - Simona Halep qualified for the WTA Finals semis without picking up a racquet on Thursday when Eugenie Bouchard won the first game of her match against Serena Williams.

Under the round robin format, the Romanian had been virtually certain of qualifying after winning her first two matches, but she needed Bouchard to take at least one game from Williams to seal her progress.

And Canada's Bouchard, beaten soundly in her opening matches, fought off break points against the world number one to go 1-0 up in their first set in Singapore.

Halep, 23, has been in great form in her first appearance at the eight-player season finale and she stunned Williams 6-0, 6-2 on Wednesday - the 18-time Grand Slam-winner's worst loss since 1998.