Simona Halep won her first title of 2018

SHENZHEN, China – World No.1 Simona Halep won her first title of 2018 on Saturday, coming through a delayed three-set final against Katerina Siniakova to win the Shenzhen Open 6-1, 2-6, 6-0.

The final was moved indoors after repeated rain delays and began six hours after its scheduled start time.

The two players were squaring off to see who would join Li Na as the lone two-time champions at the event, with Halep having won her first title in 2015 and Siniakova winning her title a year ago.

Halep stormed to the first set in under half an hour, breaking Siniakova twice in a dominant start in which she lost just seven points on serve overall.

Having defeated Halep in three sets in the second round on her way to the title a year ago, Siniakova would not go quietly in her title defense. The No.6 seed finally found her feet in the second set, breaking in the fourth game to move 3-1 ahead.

Despite being broken back in the very next game, the Czech maintained her focus to take Halep’s serve twice more and level the match at a set apiece.

The deciding set began with another break, with Siniakova losing serve, and she was again broken to love in the third game of the set, double faulting to allow Halep to move 3-0 ahead.

The Romanian did not look back from there, breaking once again to ease to the title and further confirm her place as top seed for the Australian Open, which starts in a week’s time.