Jankovic books Auckland semi-final berth

PERTH, Jan 4 (Reuters) Serbian top seed Jelena Jankovic booked her place in the semi-finals of the Auckland Classic after a comfortable victory over former champion Eleni Daniilidou of Greece today.

The 21-year-old world number 12 is yet to lose a set in her run through the draw and ended the 2003 and 2004 champion's hopes of a third crown with 6-3 6-4 victory.

''It was a great match for me and I was happy with the win,'' Jankovic told reporters.

''In the previous rounds, I didn't play as well as today. I went up a level because I needed to against Eleni.'' The Serb, whose 2004 Budapest win remains her only tour success, needed treatment for a foot ailment in the second set but blamed an ill-fitting shoe and said it would not be a problem in her last-four contest against France's Camille Pin.

Pin reached her third tour semi-final after a 6-3 6-3 victory over compatriot Emilie Loit, reversing the defeat in their only previous meeting in the first round of last year's US Open.

''I had a specific plan and I focused only on this plan. Whatever happened, I kept my mind on this,'' she said.

American Jill Craybas reached the semis at the ninth attempt when she defeated Argentine veteran Paola Suarez 6-3 7-6 and now faces Russian fifth seed Vera Zvonareva, who was 7-5 2-0 up against Virginie Razzano when the French qualifier retired with a back injury.

REUTERS SAM SSC1356