TOKYO, Feb. 2 (UPI) -- World No. 1 Maria Sharapova rallied to a three-set victory Friday and advanced to the semifinals of the Pan Pacific Open in Tokyo.
Local favorite Ai Sugiyama jumped out and took the first set from Sharapova but the top-ranked player established control and lost just one game the rest of the way in taking a 4-6, 6-0, 6-1 win.
Second-seeded Martina Hingis had little trouble taking her quarterfinal, running past Samantha Stosur 6-0, 6-1. Also Friday, fifth-seeded Ana Ivanovic ousted No. 4 Jelena Jankovic 3-6, 6-4, 6-2 and third-seeded Elena Dementieva routed Roberta Vinci 6-1, 6-2.
Four of the top five seeds move into Saturday's semifinals. Dementieva, the tournament's defending champion, goes against Hingis and Sharapova, who won the event in 2005, draws Ivanovic in the semis.
Saturday's winners meet Sunday, with the Pan Pacific champion earning $182,000.
