Sharapova wins, Venus loses in San Diego

SAN DIEGO, Aug. 4 (UPI) -- No. 1 seed and defending champion Maria Sharapova breezed into the semifinals of the Acura Classic Friday with a 6-2, 6-1 win over Sania Mirza.

Also advancing was third-seeded Anna Chakvetadze, winner of her last 12 matches.

Chakvetadze, who captured tournaments in Cincinnati and Stanford, came back to defeat Venus Williams, 6-7 (5-7), 7-6 (7-3), 6-2. Williams won this event three years in a row beginning in 2000.

Patty Schnyder moved into the semifinals by defeating Nadia Petrova, 6-4, 6-4, and Elena Dementieva was a 6-2, 6-4 victor over Maria Kirilenko.

Sharapova will play Chakvetadze and Dementieva will meet Schnyder on Saturday.