Tennis: Simona Halep beats Polona Hercog in Miami Open marathon

Simona Halep moved into the fourth round of the Miami Open after a marathon three-set victory over Polona Hercog in a match that lasted close to three hours. The 2018 French Open champion fought back from the brink to beat the Slovenian 5-7, 7-6(1), 6-2. Hercog, the world number 93, controlled the first set and as the second wore on seemed likely to retain her undefeated record against Halep, but the intensity of the match increased and resulted in a tie-break. Halep managed to shake off those earlier nerves and problems with her knee, to win the tie-break 7-1 and force a deciding set. In the third set, the world number three was always in control, breaking her 28-year-old opponent twice before serving out for the victory in an epic battle in the Miami sunshine. Halep will meet Venus Williams in the fourth round.