By Erik Gudris / Thursday, January 2, 2014

 

The top three seeds remaining at the ASB Classic, including Ana Ivanovic, marched into the semifinals. Unseeded Venus Williams also booked her spot into the final four.

Photo Credit: AP

The ASB Classic in Auckland, New Zealand, may be without its top seed Roberta Vinci who lost early, but four women remain who are all capable of taking home their first title of the season.

That includes No. 2 seed Ana Ivanovic who struggled in the early games of her quarterfinal against Japan's Karumi Nara. After holding serve for 3-2, Ivanovic went on to take the first set 6-2.

The former No. 1 had no trouble from there closing out the 6-2, 6-3 win.

Waiting for Ivanovic in the semifinals is her friend and doubles partner this week No. 3 seed Kirsten Flipkens of Belgium. Flipkens herself battled Japanese qualifier Sachie Ishizu earlier before winning 6-4, 7-5.

"It's always tricky playing your friend, but it's just a tennis match, so we go on court, we play our best, and we can have dinner afterwards," Ivanovic said to WTA.com. "We've practiced quite a few times and we played an exhibition in December, so it's definitely going to be fun playing her. I'm looking forward to it."

Williams Sets Up All-American Semi Versus Hampton

She may be unseeded this week, but Venus Williams is enjoying her status as the local crowd favorite as she took another step to the finals. Williams faced off against young Spaniard Garbine Muguruza in a meeting of one of the WTA's rising young stars against the veteran American.

With her trademark big serving, Williams roared out to a 4-1 lead in the opening set. Muguruza finally settled into her own game and was poised to level the set at 4-all. But more big serving from Williams got her out of trouble and she soon closed out the set 6-3.

Williams, who won 74% of her first serve points, kept up the pressure and eventually posted the 6-3, 6-3 win. The former Wimbledon champion will now meet another young WTA star in No. 5 seed Jamie Hampton of the USA. In a meeting of young Americans, Hampton prevailed earlier against Lauren Davis 6-2, 4-6, 6-4.

Hampton and Williams will play against each other for the first time.