Rezai makes Tournament of Champions semis

BALI, Indonesia, Nov. 5 (UPI) -- No. 10-seeded Aravane Rezai was a straight-set winner Thursday, becoming the first semifinalist of the $600,000 Tournament of Champions in Indonesia.

Rezai, who upset fourth-seeded Sabina Lisicki in her first Group D match, swept by No. 8-seeded Melinda Czink 6-3, 7-5 Thursday behind six service breaks. Rezai faced one break point in taking the first set and used three breaks in the second in locking up a place in Saturday's semifinals.

None of the other three groups were decided Thursday, the second day of the five-day event, but two players in addition to Lisicki and Czink were eliminated.

Seventh-seeded Shahar Peer took out Magdalena Rybarikova 6-1, 7-6 (7-4) and will play top-seeded Marion Bartoli for the Group A title Friday.

Group B's winner will be decided in a match between No. 2-seeded Samantha Stosur and No. 6 Maria Jose Martinez Sanchez. Martinez Sanchez rallied for a 4-6, 6-4, 6-0 victory that put Agnes Szavay out of the competition.

No. 12-seeded Kimiko Date Krumm defeated fifth-seeded Anabel Medina Garrigues 6-4, 6-3. Date Krumm is 1-1 in the group and will await the result of Friday's match between third-seeded Yanina Wickmayer and Medina Garrigues to see who advances from Group C.