Fes, Morocco – Two-time runner-up Simona Halep upset top- seeded former champion Anabel Medina Garrigues in Thursday's quarterfinal action at the $220,000 Moroccan Grand Prix tennis event.
The fifth-seeded Halep whipped the 2009 titlist and 2008 Fes runner-up Medina Garrigues, of Spain, in 6-2, 6-1 fashion in 72 minutes on the red clay at Royal Tennis Club de Fes Complexe Sportif.
Halep lost in the last two finals here, including a setback at the hands of Italian Alberta Brianti in last year's title tilt.
The Romanian Halep's semifinal opponent on Friday will be Dutch qualifier and fellow 20-year-old Kiki Bertens, who, playing in her WTA-level debut this week, beat Spanish qualifier Garbine Muguruza Blanco 6-1, 6-4 on Day 4.
Friday's other semi will pit French lucky-loser Mathilde Johansson against Spaniard Laura Pous-Tio. Johansson took out third-seeded Czech Petra Cetkovska 6-3, 6-4, while Pous-Tio dismissed Romanian Irina-Camelia Begu 6-4, 6-1.
The 2012 Fes champ will take home $37,000.
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