Williams beats Sevastova to reach semifinals of Taiwan Open

Posted February 12, 2016 6:00 am

The Associated Press

KAOHSIUNG, Taiwan (AP) - Top-seeded Venus Williams beat Anastasija Sevastova of Latvia 7-5, 6-2 to advance to the semifinals of the Taiwan Open on Friday.

Williams rallied from 5-2 down in the first set and broke Sevastova three more times to set up a semi with third-seeded Yulia Putintseva of Kazakhstan.

"I didn't think about the set points, I just tried to not lose the set," Williams said. "But she was playing really well and was very determined so it wasn't easy to play her."

Putintseva won the first set 6-3 against Stefanie Voegele, after which the Swiss retired because of injury.

Williams has beaten her in both of their previous meetings.

"I have a lot of respect for her and her game and I hope tomorrow to have a faster start," Williams said.

Also, local favorite and sixth-seeded Hsieh Su-Wei breezed past Elizaveta Kulichkova of Russia 6-0, 6-2.

Hsieh will face Japan's Misaki Doi, who advanced when compatriot Kurumi Nara withdrew before their quarterfinal due to injury.

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