Cornet only seed left in Austrian tennis

BAD GASTIEN, Austria, July 24 (UPI) -- Alize Cornet, who at No. 1 is the only seeded player left in the tournament, survived a three-sets test Friday to reach the semifinals of the Gastein Ladies.

Cornet outlasted Barbora Strycova 6-4, 2-6, 6-2 to set up a semifinal meeting with Ioana Raluca Olaru.

Olaru advanced by defeating sixth-seeded Magdalena Rybarikova 6-4, 6-4.

The other semifinal will send Andrea Petkovic against Yaroslava Shvedova. Petkovic ousted No. 7 seed Anna-Lena Groenefeld 6-7 (6-8), 6-3, 6-1 and Shvedova was a 6-2, 6-3 winner over Yvonne Meusburger.

With all of her seeded challengers gone, Cornet has an excellent chance to win her first tournament of the year. Her last triumph came last season at the Gaz de France Grand Prix.

Cornet reached the fourth round of the Australian Open this year, the best showing she has had in 13 major championship appearances.