4 unseeded players reach Hobart semifinal

HOBART, Australia, Jan. 14 (UPI) -- Iveta Benesova, Petra Kvitova, Magdalena Rybarikova and Virginie Razzano, all unseeded, won quarterfinal matches in the Hobart International in Australia.

Benesova, of the Czech Republic, bested Gisela Dulko of Argentina 6-4, 6-4 and Kvitova, also a Czech, dropped the opening set but rallied to defeat Russian Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova 1-6, 7-5, 6-3 in Wednesday matches.

Rybarikova, of Slovakia, outlasted Hungarian qualifier Melinda Czink, 6-0, 1-6, 7-6 (9-7), and Razzano, of France, downed Bulgarian Tsvetana Pironkova, 6-4, 6-1.

Benesova takes on Rybarikova and Kvitova plays Razzano in the semifinals Thursday.