Romania's Halep defeats compatriot Cirstea to advance to BNP Paribas Open women's singles QFs

Romanian tennis player Simona Halep defeated her compatriot Sorana Cirstea 6-1 6-4 on Tuesday in the women's singles round of 16 at the 8,584,055-USD BNP Paribas Open 2022 WTA 1,000 tournament at Indian Wells, US, Agerpres reports.

Twenty-forth seeded Halep, 30, world number 26, prevailed in an hour and 22 minutes over Cirstea, 31, world number 27, and solidified her status as the best professional Romanian tennis player.

The two Romanians are now tied in the head-to-head count at 2-2. In in the 2008 quarterfinals of WTA 50k Bucharest tournament, Cirstea won 3-6 6-3 6-1; Halep got her win in 2010, in the round of 16 at Marbella, 6-4 7-6 (4), but Sorana prevailed in the second round of qualifying at the WTA Cincinnati Masters 2010, 6-2 6-4.

For her performance at Indian Wells Halep has won 179,940 US dollars and 215 WTA singles points. Cirstea left with 94,575 US dollars and 120 WTA singles points.

In the quarter-finals, Halep, the 2015 winner, will face the winner between Croatian Petra Martic and Russian Liudmila Samsonova.