Top Three Seeds Advance to Semifinals at La Costa

It will be second-seeded Andrea Petkovic of Germany facing third-seeded Agnieszka Radwanska of Poland Saturday afternoon in the first of two semifinal  matches at the Mercury Insurance Open at La Costa Resort and Spa.

In the evening semifinal, No. 1 seed Vera Zvonareva of Russia takes on fifth-seeded Ana Ivanovic of Serbia.

In Friday's quarterfinals, Zvonareva staved off three break points in the third set, then scored a key service break for a 4-3 lead en route to a 6-3, 3-6, 6-4 win over No. 12 seed Sabine Lisicki of Germany.

“I think it was one of the most important moments in the match because you never want to go down a break in such a tight match and against a good server like Sabine,” Zvonareva said. “After that, I didn’t lose the concentration in the next game. I was able to break her right away and I think that was a key moment right there.”

Radwanska overcame a first-set drubbing and a shoulder injury to beat eighth-seeded Daniela Hantuchova 0-6, 6-4, 6-4.

After winning just nine points in the first set, Radwanska called for a WTA trainer. The right-handed Radwanska is suffering from a nerve issue in her right shoulder that causes some difficulty, especially with her serve.

After receiving treatment, Radwanska’s game improved considerably in the second set.

“After you lose 6-love, you really have nothing to lose,” she said. “So, I start to play more aggressive. In my mind, it was just to play, win some games. I just feel more relaxed.”

Radwanska said she considered pulling out after the first set because her shoulder was “sore.”

“But then I had some chances, so I said, ‘OK, a couple of more games,”’ said Radwanska, who placed the odds of her being able to play in the semifinals at “50-50.”

Ivanovic fell behind 4-1 to open the match and then won 11 of the last 13 games to beat No. 4 Peng Shuai of China 6-4, 6-2.

Ivanovic, the former world No. 1, showed flashes of her former brilliance with a much improved serve and precision winners from both sides.

“I started swinging a lot more,” Ivanovic said of her rally from the 4-1 deficit. “I was a little bit pushing, a little bit not trying to make a mistake and tried to place the ball rather than just commit and hit. I started doing that and it made a difference.”

Petkovic rolled over unseeded American teenager Sloane Stephens by a 6-2, 6-1 count.

Petkovic, 23, used her vast experience to overpower her younger opponent, who quickly fell out of the match.

“I felt like in the beginning, the first maybe six games, it was a really tough battle,” Petkovic said. “I think after I made the (service) break for 4-2, it was too much, just with the inexperience.”

Although the match was lopsided, Petkovic believes she received some value from her time on the court.

“I think it’s very important when you play these young players to just sort of show who’s the boss on the court,” she said. “You keep up the intensity for every point.”

An Associated Press report was used in compiling this story.