Romanian tennis star Simona Halep continued on Monday night what seems to be the best month in her career so far as she beat Italy’s Flavia Pannetta to reach the quarter finals of the Miami Open.

Halep, who had lost her previous three matches against Pannetta broke the curse against the Italian and won in two straight sets: 6-3, 7-5. This was Halep’s 23rd victory in the WTA circuit this year.

The Romanian, who won her first WTA Premier Mandatory tournament in Indian Wells less than two weeks ago, went into the Miami tournament decided to make it as far as possible into the competition. She beat Czech Nicole Vaidisova in the second round of the competition and then she got past Italy’s darling Camila Georgi, before meeting Pannetta.

In the quarter finals, Halep will face American rising star Sloane Stephens, the local favourite. If she gets past Stephens, the Romanian has a good chance of meeting the world’s number one Serena Williams in the semi-finals.

Halep and Williams were supposed to play in the semi-finals at Indian Wells, but Serena withdrew due to health issues, clearing Simona’s way to the final. The two haven’t met since the final of the WTA Finals in Singapore, at the end of October 2014.

editor@romania-insider.com

(Photo source: Miami Open Facebook page)