Top-seeded Russian Nadia Petrova booked her semi-final berth at the WTA claycourt tournament here Friday with a 4-6, 6-3, 7-6 (7/5) victory over seventh-seeded Ukrainian Alona Bondarenko. Petrova overcame 71 unforced errors with the help of seven aces.
The Russian is coming off a "stress reaction" injury to her right foot - which can be a precursor to a stress fracture - and played with both feet taped. On Saturday shell face fifth-seeded Canadian Aleksandra Wozniak, a 6-3, 3-6, 7-6 (9/7) winner over Austrian Tamira Paszek. "I will gain confidence from this, and that is what I have been lacking," Petrova said.
Russian Elena Vesnina upended third-seeded Slovakian Dominika Cibulkova 7-5, 6-7 (5/7), 6-3. "From my side, it was not good," Cibulkova said. "I didnt feel good on the court, and I dont know why. I was fighting and fighting, and when she went up 3-2 (in the third set), I got panicked and played stupid again." Vesnina will face second-seeded Caroline Wozniacki of Denmark, who defeated Slovakian Daniela Hantuchova 6-2, 6-2.