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Stosur overcomes Wozniacki

— Photo: AFP

DETERMINED: Samantha Stosur stretched her comeback from illness by reaching the semifinals of the Eastbourne Championships.

Eastbourne: Australian Samantha Stosur stretched her comeback from illness with a charge into the semifinals of the Eastbourne Championships 7-6(3), 6-4 over Caroline Wozniacki on Thursday.

Stosur, three-times a runner-up on the WTA, achieved her best showing since returning to tennis in April after an eight-month absence due to viral meningitis and Lyme’s disease — a setback which dropped her ranking from a career-best 27th to 157th.

The 24-year-old, who has 22 doubles titles, will play for a spot in the final at Devonshire Park against the winner from Russians Nadia Petrova, seeded fifth, and 62nd-ranked qualifier Ekaterina Makarova.

Stosur and the 17-year-old Wozniacki, of Denmark, battled for just over 90 minutes in the swirling wind which characterises this pre-Wimbledon event on the south coast.

“You just cope with it the best you can,” said Stosur. “You have to stay positive and try to hit more winning shots than your opponent.”

Karlovic in last four

Reigning champion Ivo Karlovic needed three sets to reach the semifinals of the Nottingham Open. The tall Croatian was given a tough test by Italian Andreas Seppi before winning 6-3, 3-6, 6-4.

In the second set seventh seed Seppi became the first player this tournament to break Karlovic’s powerful serve after the title-holder had had things pretty much his own way in the opening stages.

But Seppi played his way back into the match with some fine passing shots before Karlovic’s serve again clicked into gear.

Karlovic will face Gael Monfils of France, who ousted Vincent Spadea of the United States 7-6(4), 6-2.

The results: At Nottingham: ATP Slazenger Open: Quarterfinals: Ivo Karlovic bt Andreas Seppi 6-3, 3-6, 6-4; Gael Monfils bt Vince Spadea 7-6(4), 6-2.

At ‘s-Hertogenbosch: Ordina Open: Quarterfinals: Men: Marc Gicquel bt Juergen Melzer 6-3, 6-4; Juan Del Potro bt Arnaud Clement 2-6, 6-3, 6-1.

Women: Elena Dementieva bt Sorana Cirstea 6-2 6-4.

At Eastbourne: WTA International Women’s Open: Quarterfinals: Samantha Stosur bt Caroline Wozniacki 7-6(3), 6-4. Second round: Agnieszka Radwanska bt Virginie Razzano 3-6, 6-3, 6-4. — Agencies

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