Zvonareva back to Pattaya semifinals

Two-time defending champion Vera Zvonareva of Russia advanced to the semifinals of the Pattaya Women's Open by defeating Peng Shuai 6-4, 4-6, 6-4 on Friday.

The third-ranked Zvonareva secured a break in the ninth game to gain the upper hand for the first time at 5-4 in the first set. The top-seeded player broke for a 3-1 lead but her 40th-ranked opponent broke back in the next game to stay in the match. It was tied at 1-1 after Zvonareva double-faulted on set point.

In the third, Zvonareva broke for 5-4 and saved two break points to win.

She will play fourth-seeded Daniela Hantuchova of Slovakia, who stopped Akgul Amanmuradova 6-2, 6-0.