Peng pushed all the way

Chinese player wins in three sets to set up last-four clash with Lisicki

Last updated: 3rd October 2008   Subscribe to RSS Feed

Peng pushed all the way

Peng: Into semis

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Top seed Shuai Peng was pushed all the way by Monica Niculescu as she reached the semi-finals of the WTA Tashkent Open on Friday.

The 22-year-old Chinese player had to come from a set down to beat the Romanian sixth seed 6-7 (6-8) 6-2 6-4 in two hours 52 minutes.

Niculescu took the first set on the tie-break after the players twice traded breaks.

But Peng - who is ranked 30 places above Niculescu in the WTA rankings, sitting in 40th place - broke twice in the second set to level.

She then moved up a gear and won the deciding set thanks to a more accurate game all round.

Her next opponent is fourth seed Sabine Lisicki of Germany after the 19-year-old also battled back from a set down to beat unseeded Urszula Radwanska of Poland 3-6 7-5 7-6 (7/4) in her quarter-final.

Third seed Sorana Cirstea beat 15-year-old Portuguese Michelle Larcher De Brito in straight sets 6-2 7-6 (7/5) to book her semi final place.

She will play fifth seed Magdalena Rybarikova, who saw off Ioana Ralu Olaru 6-1 6-2.