Mason, OH (My Sportsbook) - Top-seeded Russian Dinara Safina defeated former world No. 1 Kim Clijsters of Belgium in quarterfinal action Friday at the $2 million Western & Southern Financial Group Women's Open. In the big match of the day, Safina, the French Open and Aussie Open runner-up defeated the wild card Clijsters, who was playing in her first WTA event since retiring from the circuit two years ago, 6-2, 7-5 on the hardcourts at the Lindner Family Tennis Center. Italy's Flavia Pennetta, the 14th-seed here, needed just two sets to take down Daniela Hantuchova of Slovakia 6-3, 6-3. Pennetta advanced to the quarterfinals as she defeated Venus Williams, the third seed and former No. 1, in the third round on Thursday. Pennetta is fresh off only her second career hardcourt title, which came in surprising fashion in Los Angeles last week. The first match of the day, fourth-seeded Russian star Elena Dementieva handled Denmark's Caroline Wozniacki, the eighth seed, 6-2, 6-1. The final match of the day saw fifth seed Jelena Jankovic of Serbia blitz Austria's Sybille Bammer, 6-0, 6-3. Safina will face Pennetta in Saturday's semifinals while Dementieva will square off against Jankovic. The 2009 Cincy champ will collect $350,000. |
