Simona Halep battled from a set down for the second time this week to book her place in the Dubai Championships semi-finals, beating Aryna Sabalenka 3-6 6-2 6-2.

The world No.2 came from behind to win her opener against Ons Jabeur on Wednesday and was set the same challenge by Sabalenka after conceding two breaks in the opening set.

Halep – aiming for victory in a tournament she won in 2015 – made an early break in the second set and, despite seeing that advantage immediately wiped out by the Belarusian in the third game, she won four of the remaining five to level the match before comfortably claiming the decider.

“I think I started to play a little bit stronger in the second set and find rhythm,” Halep said in her on-court interview.

“It’s always tough to play against her because she’s very strong and hits the ball really, really hard, so I had to play faster, be quicker on court and give everything I had to win.”

The result sets up a last-four clash with qualifier Jennifer Brady, who pulled off a 6-7 (7-5) 6-3 6-4 victory over Spanish two-time grand slam winner Garbine Muguruza to prolong an impressive week.

The 24-year-old American, ranked 52, picked up a sixth consecutive win in the Emirates, having battled through qualifying before upsetting Elina Svitolina, Marketa Vondrousova and recent Australian Open finalist Muguruza.

Halep won in straight sets when the pair met at last month’s Aussie Open.

Elena Rybakina maintained her impressive form to knock out second-seeded Karolina Pliskova 7-6 (7-1) 6-3 and will now face Petra Martic, who saw off Anett Kontaveit 7-6 (7-4) 6-1.

The 20-year-old Russian-born Kazakh Rybakina is the in-form player of the women’s tour at the moment, having made three finals in four tournaments contested in 2020 heading into Dubai.