Sharapova, Srebotnik reach Zurich semis

ZURICH, Oct 20 (Reuters) Maria Sharapova will play unseeded Slovenian Katarina Srebotnik in the semi-finals of the Zurich Open after both secured straight-set victories today.

Second-seeded Sharapova had little difficulty against Swiss wild card Timea Bacsinszky, winning 6-4 6-3, and Srebotnik defeated Russia's Maria Kirilenko 6-3 6-2.

The second semi-final will be between unseeded Slovak Daniela Hantuchova and either third seed Svetlana Kuznetsova or fifth seed Martina Hingis, who were playing later today.

Hantuchova reached the semi-finals with a walkover after top seed Amelie Mauresmo withdrew yesterday with a shoulder injury.

Sharapova was rarely troubled by Bacsinszky, who nevertheless served well and occasionally caught the Russian unprepared with some well-struck short balls.

A break in the opening game was enough to decide the first set, although Sharapova also held a break point for 3-0 and three set points on her opponent's serve at 5-3.

Sharapova also broke at the start of the second set, but had to hold off two break points in the next game and failed to take a 3-0 lead when Bacsinszky saved a break point with an ace.

Sharapova then surrendered her serve with a forehand error, but a double-fault gave her a further break for 4-2, and she broke again for the match.

Srebotnik saved two break points against Kirilenko at 1-1, and then took the set after breaking on her third set point to lead 5-3.

The Slovenian withstood a more solid challenge from Kirilenko in the second set, breaking for 1-0 when Kirilenko double-faulted, but giving up her serve to love in the next game.

Srebotnik broke again for 2-1 and needed to fight off two break points for 2-2. And even when she broke again to serve for the match at 5-2, Kirilenko held but failed to win a further break point.

REUTERS AB BS2221