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Barring the world No.1 Caroline Wozniacki, all the other leading ladies continued their victorious march in the APIA International in Sydney, booking their place in the semi-finals. The Wimbledon champion and no. 2 seed Petra Kvitova kept her unbeaten record against the Brisbane runner up Daniela Hantuchova intact with a straight sets demolition. Third seed Victoria Azarenka was clinical and made better use of the opportunities to triumph over the pugnacious Marion Bartoli. While French open winner Li Na used the wealth of her experience to overcome the fighting left hander Lucie Safarova. But the biggest surprise of the day was the perennial contender Agnieszka Radwanska, coming back from a set and a break down in the second, to record a thrilling win against the top seeded Dane.

The top seed eased through the first set and looked poised to sail through to the semi-finals, serving for the match at 5-4 in the second. However, the 22-year old Pole, whose only previous win over Wozniacki was in 2007, showed tremendous fighting spirit, reeling off the next three games and winning the set 7-5. The No.7 seeded Radwanska turned out to be the stronger player in the third, breaking Wozniacki thrice to take the set and the match 3-6, 7-5, 6-2. A troublesome wrist didn't help the young Dane's cause, and she'll probably relish having a few days off before the Australian Open.

The world no. 2 Petra Kvitova was in a destructive mood, routing Hantuchova 6-0, 6-4 in little more than an hour. The talented Czech, who idolises Martina Navratilova, won a whopping 85% of her first serve points and put the Hantuchova serve under the radar throughout the duration of the match, breaking five times. After a lopsided first set, Hantuchova did show traces of the form that saw her make the Brisbane final, though it was not enough to deny the rampaging Kvitova a well deserved victory.

Kvitova can take over the number 1 ranking from Wozniacki should she win the title this week. Funnily though, she would still be ranked no.2 at the Australian Open as the seeds have already been announced.

Azarenka came into her match with Bartoli holding a 7-2 edge in the head to head but she had ended up on the losing side in their previous encounter in the WTA Championships in Turkey. The duo battled through two very tight sets with Azarenka playing the big points better to prevail 7-5, 6-4.

Completing the semi-final line up is the 29 year old fourth seed Li Na, who, despite converting just 3 of 14 break point opportunities, staved off the challenge of the 24 year old Czech Lucie Safarova 6-2, 7-6(3).

In the semi-finals, Li Na will play against the Hopman Cup winner Kvitova while Victoria Azarenka will fight it out against the 22 year old party-pooper from Poland, Agnieszka Radwanska.

Women's Singles - Quarterfinals
(7) Agnieszka Radwanska (POL) d. (1) Caroline Wozniacki (DEN) 36 75 62
(2) Petra Kvitova (CZE) d. Daniela Hantuchova (SVK) 60 64
(3) Victoria Azarenka (BLR) d. (8) Marion Bartoli (FRA) 75 64
(4) Li Na (CHN) d. Lucie Safarova (CZE) 62 76(3)

File Photograph Copyright: Porsche Tennis Grand Prix