Venus books Stanford semis berth

AFP, SAN FRANCISCO: Top-seeded Venus Williams booked her semi-final berth at the WTA hardcourt tournament in Stanford, California, on Friday with a 6-4, 6-1 victory over 17-year-old wild card CiCi Bellis.
Ranked seventh in the world, the 36-year-old Williams needed only an hour to get past the 203rd-ranked Bellis in an all-American clash.
Williams, who captured the most recent of her 49 singles titles in February in Taiwan, next faces another American, Alison Riske, who was leading 6-3, 0-1 when fourth-seeded Coco Vandeweghe retired from their quarter-final with a right ankle injury.
Vandeweghe left the court in a wheelchair, pressing an ice pack to her ankle.
Bellis, playing in her first WTA quarter-final was buoyed by an early service break.
But former world number one Williams quickly regained the break and broke again with a backhand winner down the line to secure the opening set.
It was all Williams in the second set as she moved a step closer to a third Stanford title to go with those she won in 2000 and 2002.
The other semi-final will pit second-seeded Dominika Cibulkova of Slovakia against third-seeded Johanna Konta of Britain.

Venus books Stanford semis berth

AFP, SAN FRANCISCO: Top-seeded Venus Williams booked her semi-final berth at the WTA hardcourt tournament in Stanford, California, on Friday with a 6-4, 6-1 victory over 17-year-old wild card CiCi Bellis. Ranked seventh in the world, the 36-year-old Williams needed only an hour to get past the 203rd-ranked Bellis in an all-American clash. Williams, who captured the most recent of her 49 singles titles in February in Taiwan, next faces another American, Alison Riske, who was leading 6-3, 0-1 when fourth-seeded Coco Vandeweghe retired from their quarter-final with a right ankle injury. Vandeweghe left the court in a wheelchair, pressing an ice pack to her ankle. Bellis, playing in her first WTA quarter-final was buoyed by an early service break. But former world number one Williams quickly regained the break and broke again with a backhand winner down the line to secure the opening set. It was all Williams in the second set as she moved a step closer to a third Stanford title to go with those she won in 2000 and 2002. The other semi-final will pit second-seeded Dominika Cibulkova of Slovakia against third-seeded Johanna Konta of Britain.