Kirilenko to meet Hantuchova in semis
Sunday, 23 September 2007
KOLKATA, Sept 22 (AFP): Fourth seed Maria Kirilenko of Russia sailed into the semi-finals of the 175,000-dollar WTA Sunfeast Open here Friday with a 6-3, 6-1 win against Italy's Flavia Pennetta.
The only Russian to advance to the last four, Kirilenko nullified the baseline game of the Italian seventh seed by charging to the net.
Pennetta appeared to cave in to the pressure, double faulting in the seventh game of the second set and failing to hold her serve.
Kirilenko's semi-final opponent will be the formidable Slovak second seed Daniela Hantuchova, who overcame the challenge of Chan Yung-jan of Taiwan 6-4, 6-1 in a late-night match.
Chan gave her more fancied opponent a scare through some spirited play, but Hantuchova kept her cool and it paid off.
Mariya Koryttseva of Ukraine and Britain's Anne Keothavong also won their quarter-final matches to advance in this Tier III event.
The only Russian to advance to the last four, Kirilenko nullified the baseline game of the Italian seventh seed by charging to the net.
Pennetta appeared to cave in to the pressure, double faulting in the seventh game of the second set and failing to hold her serve.
Kirilenko's semi-final opponent will be the formidable Slovak second seed Daniela Hantuchova, who overcame the challenge of Chan Yung-jan of Taiwan 6-4, 6-1 in a late-night match.
Chan gave her more fancied opponent a scare through some spirited play, but Hantuchova kept her cool and it paid off.
Mariya Koryttseva of Ukraine and Britain's Anne Keothavong also won their quarter-final matches to advance in this Tier III event.