Halep served first, and a love game was the perfect beginning. It became better next game after she broke the Putintseva serve, a Kazakh double fault and Romanian forehand significant contributions.
Putintseva immediately broke back, converting the third of three break points, employing the drop shot and lob to great effect.
Three service breaks in succession, after a string of errors from Putintseva and two forehand winners from the fourth seed. Halep led 3-1.
At 1-4, and 40-15, Putintseva shanked a forehand, was fooled by a Halep drop shot, and misfired with her backhand. This produced break point. It came when Putintseva found the net.
Halep would serve for the set at 5-1.
The first set point came following a Halep ace. It was saved with a Putintseva drop shot-lob combo.
The second set point was used better - a service winner. The set was over 6-1.
Putintseva saved three break points before holding in the opening game of set two.
After four games of service holds, there was a trio of service breaks for the second time in the match, leaving Halep ahead 4-3 and at the line.
At 30-15, Putintseva hit a forehand into open court, and then returned powerfully, forcing Halep to miss a forehand. The break point was saved, as was another, the second via a Halep winning forehand.
Serve was held, extending the Romanian lead to 5-3.
Putintseva held, leaving Halep to serve for a round of sixteen spot.
Two match points arrived rather easily, largely due to Kazakh mistakes. Only one was needed, when a Putintseva drop shot attempt failed.
Simona Halep won 6-1 6-4.
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