By IANS
Tokyo : Italian Flavia Pennetta ousted India’s second seed Sania Mirza 6-4, 6-4 in the quarter-finals of the AIG Japan Open tennis here Thursday.
In the semi-final, the eighth seeded Italian faces fifth seeded Frenchwoman Virginie Razzano, who beat compatriot Camille Pin 6-2, 6-2.
Top-seeded Venus Williams, who made a winning debut in South Korea with a title victory last weekend, out-duelled Australian Alicia Molik 7-6 (7-4), 6-3.
The American improved to 4-1 in the series with the Australian, who won their last encounter at the Australian Open two years ago. Williams is bidding for her third title of the season, playing on the autumn Asian tournament swing for the first time in two years.
The American, ranked eighth in the world and battling to secure a place in November’s season-ending WTA event in Madrid, overcame 12 aces by Molik.
Williams needed just over 90 minutes to advance into a final-four meeting with Dane Caroline Wozniacki, who overcame Czech Klara Zakopalova 6-3, 2-6, 7-6 (7-3).
The 17-year-old Dane has exploded into form after opening-round losses in Bali, Beijing and Seoul in recent weeks.
The results:
Women’s singles: Quarter-finals:
1-Venus Williams (USA) bt Alicia Molik (Aus) 7-6 (7-4), 6-3
Caroline Wozniacki (Den) bt Klara Zakopalova (Cze) 6-3, 2-6, 7-6(7-3)
5-Virginie Razzano (Fra) bt Camille Pin (Fra) 6-2, 6-2
8-Flavia Pennetta (Ita) bt 2-Sania Mirza (Ind) 6-4, 6-4