Kontaveit hammers Halep to win Transylvania title, qualify for WTA Finals

The Estonian will also move into the world’s top 10 for the first time on Monday

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October 31, 2021

Estonia’s Anett Kontaveit completed the perfect week as she crushed former world No 1 Simona Halep 6-2, 6-3 on Sunday to win the Transylvania Open title and secure her place in the season-ending WTA Finals.

Kontaveit raced through the first set and overcame a mini-wobble at the start of the second to secure her fourth title of the year and book her spot in Guadalajara, Mexico, next month.

The 25-year-old had never beaten Halep in three previous meetings but dominated from the baseline, overpowering the Romanian with huge groundstrokes to dash her hopes of winning the title on home soil.

Halep saved three match points at 2-5 in the second set but Kontaveit would not be denied, banging down a big serve to finish it off, and clenching her fist towards her support team in delight.

Kontaveit will move into the top 10 for the first time when the WTA rankings are updated on Monday.