Kerber reaches Monterrey semifinals

MONTERREY, Mexico, April 6 (UPI) -- Top-seeded Angelique Kerber breezed into the semifinals of the Monterrey Open Friday with a 6-2, 6-1 decision over Ayumi Morita.

Kerber needed just 51 minutes to produce the quarterfinal victory, setting up a matchup with Maria Kirilenko.

Kirilenko ousted Urszula Radwanska 6-1, 6-4. Kerber and Kirilenko will be meeting for the first time with Kerber trying to capture the third title of her career.

The other semifinal will send Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova against Monica Niculescu.

Pavlyuchenkova ended the run of Lauren Davis 6-2, 7-5 and Niculescu eliminated Timea Babos 7-6, 6-2. Babos had surprised fourth-seeded Ana Ivanovic in the second round.