TOKYO (AP) — Fourth-ranked Vera Zvonareva of Russia defeated compatriot Maria Kirilenko 6-3, 6-3 on Thursday to advance to the semifinals at the Pan Pacific Open.
Zvonareva had five aces in the match that lasted 1 hour, 14 minutes at Ariake Colosseum and improved to 6-0 in head-to-head matches against the unseeded Kirilenko.
Second-seeded Maria Sharapova of Russia will face fifth-seeded Petra Kvitova of the Czech Republic later Thursday in a rematch of this year’s Wimbledon final.