Zvonareva makes Hobart semifinals

HOBART, Australia, Jan. 9 (UPI) -- No. 2-seeded Vera Zvonareva was a straight-set winner Wednesday and moved to the semifinals of Australia's $170,000 Moorilla Hobart International tournament.

In a tournament that has seen seeded players steadily knocked out, Zvonareva posted another solid victory, beating Elena Vesnina 6-3, 6-3 in quarterfinal play.

Also Wednesday, qualifier Ashley Harkleroad defeated Edina Gallovits, another qualifier, 6-4, 6-4 and earned a semifinal berth against Zvonareva.

The other semifinal sends Flavia Pennetta against Eleni Daniilidou. Pennetta advanced on a 7-5, 1-6, 6-3 upset of sixth-seeded Sania Mirza. Daniilidou defeated local favorite Casey Dellacqua 6-4, 7-5 in Dellacqua's first appearance in a WTA quarterfinal.