'It wasn't easy' - Halep reflects on Sharapova win as she prepares for Kasatkina

BEIJING, China - Simona Halep is delighted to have broken her losing streak against Maria Sharapova - and is now preparing for a tough test against Daria Kasatkina in the China Open quarterfinals.

"I think I played well from the beginning until the end," said the World No.2, reflecting on her first-ever win against her long-time nemesis.

She now faces another Russian in the shape of 20-year-old Kasatkina - against whom she holds a narrow 2-1 head-to-head advantage, but to whom she lost in straight sets, 6-2, 6-1, in Wuhan.

There is more on the line, too; Halep knows that if she can reach the final in Beijing and avoid losing there to Elina Svitolina, she will take the World No.1 spot.

Read: Friday's Order of Play in Beijing and the match report of her Sharapova win.