(September 21, 2012) -- The semifinals of the KDB Korea Open are set with top seed Caroline Wozniacki continuing to get some much needed wins while American Varvara Lepchenko earned a career best showing at a WTA event.

 

Wozniacki only suffered a mild setback in her straight sets win over No. 7 seed Klara Zakopalova after Wozniacki, on the verge of winning while up 6-2, 5-0, dropped three consecutive games before finally closing out the match 6-2, 6-3.

 

"This is my first time back here in Seoul since 2007," said Wozniacki afterwards. "Time goes quickly! But I'm happy to be here again. The tournament has changed a lot since then, but the people are as nice and polite as always and it's really nice to be back."

 

The former No. 1 who is still hoping to make the final eighth spot for the year end championships in Istanbul will now take on Russia's Ekaterina Makarova in the semis after Makarova defeated defending champion Maria Jose Sanchez Martinez 6-1, 6-1.

 

American Varvara Lepchenko edged out Tamira Paszek in a close three setter that saw Lepchenko drop the first set, win the second in a tiebreak and then close out the match in a tight third set 4-6, 7-6(3), 6-4. With the effort, Lepchenko enters her first career WTA semifinal and is poised to enter the top 20 next week. Previously this year, Lepchenko had lost her last three quarterfinal matches having reached that stage in Memphis, Madrid, and Carlsbad.