Zvonareva, Azarenka reach Miami semis

MIAMI, March 30 (UPI) -- Victoria Azarenka surprised Australian Open champion Kim Clijsters Wednesday to earn a spot in the semifinals of the Sony Ericsson Open in Miami.

The eighth-seeded Azarenka was a 6-3, 6-3 winner over Clijsters, who was seeded second and was trying to reach her fourth tournament final this year.

No. 3 seed Vera Zvonareva also advanced with a 7-5, 6-3 decision over Agnieszka Radwanska. By winning this tournament, Zvonareva would pass Clijsters for the second spot in the world rankings.

World No. 1 Caroline Wozniacki lost in the fourth round to Andrea Petkovic.

The win for Azarenka was easily her most significant victory of the year and set up her first semifinal match of 2011. She lost to Clijsters in the second round of an Australian Open tune-up event and then fell in the fourth round at Melbourne to finalist Li Na.

Zvonareva has one title to her credit this year, having won in Qatar by defeating Wozniacki in the championship match.

Zvonareva and Azarenka will meet in one semifinal match. The other will send Petkovic against former world No. 1 Maria Sharapova.