Top seeds through in Linz

Pennetta: Through to semis

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Top seeds Flavia Pennetta and Agnieszka Radwanska booked their places in the semi-finals of the Generali Ladies event in Linz on Friday.

Top ranked Pennetta converted five of her seven chances to break opponent Ioana Raluca Olaru, winning 7-5 6-2, while Radwanska was forced to save two set points before defeating Lucie Safarova 6-3 7-6.

From 3-3, a succession of five consecutive breaks left Pennetta leading 6-5, but she double-faulted on her first set point before closing out the set on her second.

The next set was an easier ride after the Italian broke to lead 2-1, saving three break points in the sixth game before finishing strongly, winning 11 of the last 13 points.

"Everyone is tired at the end of the year," said Pennetta. "Actually I felt a little bit better than yesterday, but she started very aggressive, very focused.

"She was playing very well today, especially the first set, but then she started having problems with her serve."

Pennetta will meet third seed Yanina Wickmayer in the last four after the Belgian defeated eighth-ranked Sara Errani 7-5 6-3.

Radwanska cruised through the first set against Czech Safarova, breaking twice to lead 5-1 before her opponent got one of those breaks back.

However, she safely served out for the set at her next opportunity before getting off on the wrong foot in the next, Safarova quickly moving a break up.

But Radwanska soon got back on level terms and there were no further breaks of serve as the second set moved into a tie-breaker.

Safarova surged ahead and earned two points to level the match, but Radwanska saved both before finally clinching the win 11-9 in a tense finale.

She will take on another Czech in Petra Kvitova for a place in the final after she upset fourth seed Carla Suarez Navarro 7-5 6-4.