Fri Jul 25 18:20:08 2008

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Wozniacki advances to semis; Kirilenko upset at Slovenia Open

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Portoroz, Slovenia (Sports Network) - Top-seeded Russian Maria Kirilenko was upended in her quarter-final match, while third-seeded Caroline Wozniacki of Denmark advanced to the semifinals Friday at the $145,000 Banka Koper Slovenia Open.

Eighth-seeded Sara Errani upset Kirilenko 6-1, 7-5. Heading into the match, Kirilenko had lost just five games in the previous rounds.

Italian Errani took the initiative early and clinched the first set 6-1. In the second she served for the match at 5-3 when Kirilenko regained her concentration, saved six match points and leveled the result to 5-5. But Errani won the next two games to win the match. Kirilenko made 51 unforced errors and served seven double faults.

Italian Errani is looking to capture her second career singles title. She won her first-ever title just two weeks ago at Palermo. Meanwhile, Kirilenko's bid for her third title of the year comes to an end.

The 18-year-old Wozniacki destroyed unseeded Russian Vera Dushevina 6-0, 6-1 in just 53 minutes.

The world No. 29 Wozniacki played very aggressively putting constant pressure on Dushevina. The 21-year-old Dushevina couldn't cope with Wozniackis strong strokes from the base line.

Wozniacki won 55 of the 79 total points. Wozniacki has dropped only eight games the entire tournament, thus far. And five of those games occurred during Wozniacki's first-round match against Andreja Klepac. This is Wozniacki's best showing this year, as she is looking for her first-ever singles title.

In other quarter-final action, Fourth-seeded Spaniard Anabel Medina Garrigues easily discarded unseeded Russian Elena Bovina 6-3, 6-2, while German Julia Goerges needed three sets to defeat Petra Martic of Croatia 6-3, 4-6, 6-4.

It was not a good day for the Russians, as they went 0-3 on the day.

In Saturday's semis, Wozniacki will face Errani and Medina Garrigues will battle Goerges.

The 2008 Slovenia Open champion will claim $22,900.