Simona Halep moved a step closer to reclaiming the world number one ranking after overhauling Wang Qiang en route to the Miami Open semi-finals.
Halep erased a 1-5 deficit and saved three set points in the second set as the Romanian star triumphed 6-4 7-5 on Wednesday.
Seeded second for the WTA Premier Mandatory tournament, Halep was leapfrogged by Naomi Osaka atop the rankings following the Australian Open in January.
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However, Halep is now just one win away from moving back to the top of the WTA summit following her one hour, 37-minute victory against 18th seed Wang midweek.
It's Simona who is in the semis!@Simona_Halep claims the match over Wang, 6-4, 7-5.#MiamiOpen pic.twitter.com/18rUfoSiGr
— WTA (@WTA) March 27, 2019
"I just found out from my coach that I need one more match to be No.1 again," Halep said post-match. "I think it's pretty much in my head, and I'm happy that I'm in this position again.
"It gives me confidence, because from the two months of the off-season, I didn't believe I would be so close again so fast. So it's going to be a big challenge, but I like to play with the pressure. So I hope tomorrow I play my best."
Standing in the way of Halep and her bid to retake the top ranking is fifth seed Karolina Pliskova, who defeated teenager and compatriot Marketa Vondrousova.
.@KaPliskova wins the battle of the Czechs at the @MiamiOpen!
— WTA (@WTA) March 28, 2019
Powers into the semifinals with a 6-3, 6-4 win! pic.twitter.com/tpqDKCpKVB
Pliskova was too good for the 19-year-old, winning 6-3 6-4 to reach her third semi-final of the season after overcoming a 0-3 deficit in the second set.