Wozniacki advances as Azarenka injures hip

INDIAN WELLS, California, Mar 18 (AFP): Top seed Caroline Wozniacki advanced to the semi-finals at Indian Wells after Victoria Azarenka pulled out of their match early in the first set with a hip injury. Wozniacki, of Denmark, was ahead 3-0 when Azarenka packed it in after taking a lengthy medical timeout to receive treatment for an injury to the left side of her hip. The eighth seed Azarenka suffered the setback just 10 minutes into the match on the second point of the third game while stretching to try and return a shot. World number one Wozniacki, who is good friends with Azarenka, said she was sorry to have to win that way. "Victoria is one of my best friends on the tour, and to see her in pain on the court and to see her get injured was not nice for sure," Wozniacki said. "I would like to have won it in another way, but I'm through to the semi-finals."