Azarenka reaches Linz semis

Linz - Top-ranked Victoria Azarenka reached her 10th semifinal of the season Friday by defeating Petra Martic of Croatia 6-2, 6-2 at the Generali Ladies.

Azarenka won the first 10 points to help build a 4-0 lead before Martic clawed her way back into the match.

The Croat had a break in the second set to level at 2-2 but did not win another game.

Azarenka will next play either Bethanie Mattek-Sands of the United States or Irina-Camelia Begu of Romania.

Julia Goerges also reached the semifinals after beating Sofia Arvidsson of Sweden 6-1, 6-4.

From 1-1 in the opening set, the fifth-seeded German won seven straight games. Arvidsson broke back to level at 4-4 in the second but then dropped her serve for the fourth time in the match.

Quarterfinals results:

Victoria Azarenka (BLR x1) bt Petra Martic (CRO) 6-2, 6-2

Julia Goerges (GER x5) bt Sofia Arvidsson (SWE) 6-1, 6-4

Kirsten Flipkens (BEL) bt Ana Ivanovic (SRB x2) 6-4, 6-0