Sharapova still on good comeback run

BIRMINGHAM, England, June 12 (UPI) -- Maria Sharapova, continuing her comeback from shoulder surgery, advanced Friday to the semifinals of the $220,000 Aegon Classic tournament in England.

Sharapova missed about nine months of play because of the shoulder injury. She came back just before the French Open and is 9-2 since returning. Her latest win was a 6-1, 2-6, 6-3 decision over Yanina Wickmayer.

Sharapova's serve had been shaky since she returned to competition but seemed to be more solid against Wickmayer as she got in 63 percent of her first serves and faced a total of three break points in the first and third sets.

Fourth-seeded Li Na defeated Stefanie Voegele 6-3, 7-6 (7-3) and earned a semifinal spot against Sharapova. Sharapova has won all five of her meetings with Li, including a three-set win in the 2009 French Open.

No. 13-seeded Magdalena Rybarikova swept by Urszula Radwanska 6-3, 6-3 and Sania Mirza upset 16th-seeded Melinda Czink 6-1, 7-6 (7-4) to set up Saturday's other semifinal. Mirza won the only time the two met previously.

The Aegon Classic champion, to be determined Sunday, will win $37,000.