Dinara Safina reached her second semi-final in as many appearances at the Estoril Open on Friday, rolling over American Jill Craybas 6-4, 6-2. The Russian second seed was stopped in a last-four appearance at the Estadio Nacional in 2002 when she lost a semi to German Anca Barna. Safina, younger sister of men's Australian Open winner Marat Safin, will face a tough challenge on Saturday from China's Na Li, the fourth seed who turned in another straightforward victory on the clay.
The first Chinese woman to lift a WTA title when the won in Guangzhou last October ran over number six Dally Randriantefy of Madagascar 6-3, 6-1.
Argentine third seed Gisela Dulko kept China from collecting half the places in the semi-finals as she defeated Jie Zheng 6-2, 6-1. The Chinese women, while far from comfortable on the clay, have managed to survive nicely so far in sunny Estoril. Li said that her confidence is lacking on what is basically an unfamiliar surface.
"I'm still not comfortable on it," said the 23-year-old from Wuhan in Hubei province. "I prefer hardcourts, so I try and play the same way on clay." The winner of 18 entry-level ITF titles also spent time in university before turning professional last year.
In men's quarter-finals, top seed Carlos Moya was facing Frenchman Paul-Henri Mathieu while second-seeded Roland Garros champion Gaston Gaudio was to play Spain's Feliciano Lopez.
WOMEN QUARTER-FINALS: Dinara Safina (RUS x2) bt Jill Craybas (USA) 6-4, 6-2; Gisela Dulko (ARG x3) bt Jie Zheng (CHN x9) 6-2, 6-1; Na Li (CHN x4) bt Dally Randriantefy (MAD x6) 6-3, 6-1.
MEN QUARTER-FINALS: Tommy Robredo (ESP) bt Davide Sanguinetti (ITA) 6-2, 6-2.