Amanmuradova moves to Tashkent semifinals

TASHKENT, Uzbekistan, Sept. 25 (UPI) -- Hometown favorite Akgul Amanmuradova advanced to the semifinals of the Tashkent Open in Uzbekistan with a straight-set upset of fifth-seeded Stefanie Voegele.

Amanmuradova, who lives in Tashkent, thrilled the local crowd with a 6-1, 6-4 win over Voegele that took just an hour. It was a solid victory as Amanmuradova won 72 percent of the points on serve and broke Voegele's serve four times in eight games.

Amanmuradova's lone WTA finals appearance was in the 2005 Tashkent Open. A win Saturday against top-seeded Yaroslava Shvedova would match that feat.

Shvedova advanced out of the quarterfinals with a 6-7 (3-7), 7-5, 6-2 win over Monica Niculescu.

Second-seeded Shahar Peer, who won a WTA event last week in China, made the Tashkent semis with a 6-4, 6-4 win over Alexandra Panova. She will next play fourth-seeded Olga Govortsova, who was a 6-3, 2-6, 6-2 winner Friday over Darya Kustova.

Saturday's semifinals winners will face off Sunday with the tournament title and $37,000 at stake.