Russian top seed Maria Sharapova reached the semi-finals of the US$200,000 WTA Istanbul tournament with a hard-won victory over Poland's Agnieszka Radwanska on Thursday.
The world No. 2 beat the seventh-seeded Pole 6-2, 3-6, 6-0, but a shoulder injury that had kept her away from the courts since March appeared to still strain her performance, just days before the French Open.
"My shoulder is still aching a little bit. Let's see how I will do tomorrow," she said of yesterday's semi-final against France's Aravane Rezai, whom she described as "a young player who has nothing to lose against me."
Radwanska, 18, mounted a spirited challenge against Sharapova in the second set, breaking her three times and eventually winning 6-3.
Sharapova came back in the third set but she had to fight hard for each point as Radwanska never let up the pressure.
"My opponent was really very tough," Sharapova said. "There were lots of ups and downs in the game."
Rezai, who ousted fourth-seeded Venus Williams, continued her winning series on Thursday, defeating another American player, Meghann Shaughnessy, 1-6, 6-1, 6-4.
In the other semi-final scheduled for yesterday, second-seeded Elena Dementieva of Russia will face the No. 5, Ukrainian Alona Bondarenko.
Dementieva struggled in her quarter-final match against Catalina Castano of Colombia, but eventually prevailed 1-6, 6-4, 6-4.
Bondarenko reached the semis without putting up a fight as her rival, third-seed Patty Schnyder of Switzerland pulled out of the tournament because of a right thigh injury ahead of the match.
"I decided to withdraw from the tournament after the pain in my right thigh muscle increased during the night and continued this morning," Schnyder said.
She said, however, that she still planned to attend the French Open, which starts in Paris tomorrow.
Hsieh Su-wei (謝淑薇) came back from an early stumble on Thursday to beat US player Madison Brengle in the French Open qualifier 3-6, 6-2, 6-3.
Hsieh had a similar match yesterday, beating Estonian Maret Ani 2-6, 6-3, 6-4 to earn a chance to play Hungarian Agnes Szavay in the fourth round.
Defending champion Nikolay Davydenko and second-seeded Andy Roddick both lost their quarter-final matches on Thursday at the Hypo Group International.
Davydenko was beaten by Juan Monaco of Argentina 6-2, 6-7 (5), 6-4, while Roddick lost to wildcard Gael Monfils of France 7-5, 6-3.
Fourth-seeded Lleyton Hewitt advanced after defeating Diego Hartfield of Argentina 6-2, 6-2, and will play Monfils in the semi-finals.
Also through to the semi-finals was Luis Horna of Peru, who beat Albert Montanes of Spain 7-6 (5), 6-7 (2), 6-1.
Davydenko never found his rhythm against the 47th-ranked Monaco after going 4-0 behind in the first set.
The top-seeded Russian still won a tight second set, but Monaco dominated the decider again and converted his first match point.
"Monaco got off to a quick start which made it very hard to fight my way back into the match," Davydenko said. "I was almost exhausted after winning the second set, and had not enough power left for the third."
Monfils beat Roddick in straight sets.
"I am very happy with my performance this week -- it is a real confidence booster for me," Monfils said.
The 20-year-old French player is coming back after seven months out with foot and ankle injuries.
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