Simona Halep: 'Rain delay against Victoria Azarenka was perfect for me'

Simona Halep has claimed that the rain delay in her quarter-final match against Victoria Azarenka at the US Open was "perfect".

The Romanian took a one-set lead at Flushing Meadows in New York, but Azarenka forced through a decider by claiming the second set.

After Halep went a break down in the third, she managed to break back, but the pair had to halt play when rain descended onto the court.

Shortly after the competitors resumed proceedings, Halep was able to see out the third set and seal an overall 6-3 4-6 6-4 victory.

"I'm happy that I won this match," Halep told reporters. "It was an amazing match. She played fantastic, but in the first set I played my best tennis, and I knew that I have, you know, I have the game to win the match. But I know also that she's very strong and she doesn't give up during the matches.

"The rain delay was perfect for me. It was unbelievable that I had another chance. So I said in the gym with my coach, I spoke and I said that I have another chance. So I have to go just to do everything I did in first set and to get this one, because it's made for me."

Halep will face Flavia Pennetta in the semi-finals.