Fri Sep 26 10:08:30 2008

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Kirilenko reaches semis; Peer ousted in Seoul

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Seoul, Korea (Sports Network) - Top-seeded Russian Maria Kirilenko will play in Saturday's semifinals, while second-seeded Israeli Shahar Peer suffered a quarterfinal upset Friday at the $145,000 hardcourt Korea Open.

The 2007 Seoul runner-up Kirilenko whipped fifth-seeded Frenchwoman Pauline Parmentier 6-3, 6-2, while Peer succumbed to veteran American Jill Craybas 6-2, 7-5 at the Olympic Tennis Courts. Kirilenko lost to American star Venus Williams in last year's finale here.

Kirilenko's semifinal opponent will be third-seeded Estonian Kaia Kanepi, while the 34-year-old Craybas will encounter Aussie Samantha Stosur. Kanepi clipped Belgian Yanina Wickmayer 6-1, 6-4, while Stosur stopped Russian Ekaterina Makarova 6-3, 6-4.

The 2008 Seoul champion will claim $22,900.