Errania into Gastein semis

Bad Gastein - Top-seeded Sara Errani overcame neck problems to beat Russian qualifier Daria Kasatkina 6-3, 3-6, 6-2 Friday in the quarterfinals of the Gastein Ladies.

The 19th-ranked Italian received medical treatment while leading 4-3 in the opening set. She lost grip on her 151st-ranked opponent in the second set but dominated the third after two early breaks.

Errani, who reached the final in Bucharest last week, will next play the third-seeded Karin Knapp of Italy or Polona Hercog of Slovenia.

Earlier, Samantha Stosur advanced to her second semifinal of the season by beating Danka Kovinic of Montenegro 6-3, 6-2.

The second-seeded Australian, who won her seventh career title in Strasbourg in May, avoided break points to set up a semifinal match against Anna Karolina Schmiedlova of Slovakia.

A week after winning in Bucharest, the seventh-seeded Schmiedlova kept her winning run going by defeating Annika Beck of Germany 6-2, 6-3.

In a second-round match moved from Thursday because of thunder, Knapp beat Johanna Larsson of Sweden 6-3, 6-3.