Pennetta And Kuznetsova Cruise Into Auckland Semis

By James Waterson

Photo Credit: Phil Walter/Getty Images

(January 5, 2012) Flavia Pennetta and Svetlana Kuznetsova advanced to the semifinals of the ASB Classic in Auckland, New Zealand after posting straight-set wins Thursday.

Pennetta won almost 60 percent of her returning points in a 6-2, 6-1 rout of 57th-ranked Elena Vesnina. She will face US Open semifinalist Angelique Kerber, who progressed after top-seeded Sabine Lisicki retired at 6-4, 4-3 because of a left abdominal muscle injury.

“I have something with my abdominals it hurts when I serve,” Lisicki said after the match. “I hope it's nothing too bad. I hope I'll recover quickly and that a couple of days off will be enough. I'm just hoping for the best”  

Meanwhile, Kuznetsova, the third seed, defeated Italy's Sara Errani 6-4, 6-3 in one hour and 15 minutes. The Russian won 69 percent of her service points despite missing more than half of her first serves, and she broke her opponent four times.

She will face Zheng Jie of China, who defeated Lucie Hradecka 6-2, 6-3. Kuznetsova, a former World No. 2, has only lost one set to Zheng in their previous six matches.