Azarenka, Sharapova gain semis

BEIJING—Top-ranked Victoria Azarenka and No. 2 Maria Sharapova advanced to the China Open semifinals on Friday.

Azarenka defeated Romina Oprandi of Switzerland, 6-2, 6-0, and Sharapova beat sixth-seeded Angelique Kerber when the German retired with a right foot injury while trailing, 6-0, 3-0.

“I thought we played a high level of tennis the first set and a half, and even though the scoreline was 6-0, 3-0, there were many games that went to deuce,” Sharapova said.

“I actually didn’t see much of her injury. I was surprised she called the trainer and even more so when she retired quickly after that.”

Sharapova has not dropped a set at the China Open. The French Open champion will next face seventh-seeded Li Na of China, who beat third-seeded Agnieszka Radwanska of Poland, 6-4, 6-2.

Azarenka, who won the Australian Open this year, converted all six break points she earned and will next face either ninth-seeded Marion Bartoli of France or Carla Suarez Navarro of Spain.

In the men’s quarterfinals, third-seeded Jo-Wilfried Tsonga of France defeated Mikhail Yozhny of Russia, 6-3, 6-2. Tsonga, who had a walkover in the third round, had seven aces and saved both break points he gave away.

Unseeded Florian Mayer also reached the semifinals when he beat Chinese wild-card entry Zhang Ze 6-3, 6-4.  AP