King causes another upset to reach Bangkok semis

BANGKOK, Oct 13 (Reuters) Teenager Vania King thrashed eighth seed Jelena Kostanic of Croatia 6-1 6-1 at the Bangkok Open today to reach her second career semi-final.

The unseeded American, who has lost just 10 games in the tournament, made light work of her quarter-final tie and eased her doubles partner Kostanic in just over an hour to reach the final four.

The 17-year-old Californian said her performance in Bangkok had been good, but believed her opponents had not played their usual games.

''I didn't go into the match expecting to win so easily,'' she told reporters.

''I'm serving well and playing really well. I think I got lucky because I don't think my opponents have been on top of their game.'' King, who turned professional in July and reached the second round at Wimbledon and the U.S. Open, said she was aiming to better her game rather than win titles.

''I'm thinking all the time about my improvement,'' she said.

'Before this tournament my results weren't good, but now I'm improving and that's what matters most to me.'' She will face sixth seed Meghann Shaughnessy in an all American semi-final tomorrow after she beat a tenacious AikoNakamura of Japan 6-2 6-4.

The hard-hitting Japanese fought back in the second set but Shaughnessy fended off the challenge.

''It was a close match. I was trying to dictate the play with my serves but she had me running around the court,'' Shaughnessy told reporters.

She added she was expecting another difficult test in the semis.

''I've got a tough match, but I'm feeling confident,'' she said.

I'm hitting the ball well and serving well and hoping to get another title here.'' REUTERS AY ND1824