Australian Open finalist Simona Halep eased into the quarterfinals of the 2018 Qatar Total Open in just over an hour with a comfortable 6-4, 6-3 victory over Latvian Anastasija Sevastova. 

Halep, who had been nursing a foot injury coming into the last 16 match, had stressed that she would be able to compete following her straight sets win over Ekaterina Makarova. The Romanian showed little problems getting around the court breaking her opponent three times to take the first set 6-4. 

As the second set progressed, Halep who has previously won the Qatar Total Open in 2014 grew in confidence. A break in the ninth game swung the contest in the favour of Halep who was cheered on by a large Romanian contingent at Khalifa Stadium.