Ukrainian Alona Bondarenko has moved into the semifinals of the Moorilla Hobart International with a 7-5 7-5 victory over 2005 champion Jie Zheng of China.
Zheng had beaten Bondarenko in their two previous matches but could not overcome a slow start to the quarterfinal match.
Bondarenko raced to a 5-1 lead in the first set before having to withstand a fightback from Zheng.
“My concentration was good and it helped me win this close match,” she said.
Friday’s semifinal appearance will be Bondarenko’s first in five visits to Hobart.
She will play the winner of the quarterfinal between top seed Anabel Medina Garrigues of Spain and eighth seed Gisela Dulko of Argentina.