Safina suffers third-round upset

LOS ANGELES, Aug. 7 (UPI) -- Zheng Jie pulled off one of the most significant wins of her career Thursday, upsetting world No. 1 Dinara Safina in the third round of the Los Angeles Open.

Zheng, a semifinalist at Wimbledon last year, won the final four games of the third set to defeat Safina 7-5, 4-6, 6-4. Safina earned a service break to take a 4-2 lead in the final set.

In the quarterfinals, Zheng will take on Samantha Stosur, who recorded a 6-3, 6-2 win over sixth-seeded Ana Ivanovic. Stosur surprised Serena Williams last week in Stanford before losing in the quarterfinals.

No. 2 seed Vera Zvonareva survived an upset bid when she got past Yanina Wickmayer 7-6 (7-5), 4-6, 6-4.

Zvonareva will face Flavia Pennetta, who was a 6-3, 6-3 winner over Nadia Petrova.

Maria Sharapova rallied to defeat Alona Bondarenko 4-6, 6-0, 6-3 and will play a quarterfinal match against Urszula Radwanska.

Radwanska advanced when Li Na was forced to retire.