WTA

• Stosur, Sharapova reach semis in Stanford

  Stanford, CA (Sports Network) - Top-seeded Australian Samantha Stosur and fifth-seeded Russian Maria Sharapova won their respective quarterfinal matches Friday at the $700,000 Bank of the West Classic tennis event.

  Stosur outlasted seventh-seeded Belgian Yanina Wickmayer 7-5, 3-6, 6-3. Stosur, who lost to Francesca Schiavone in the finale at Roland Garros, is playing her first tournament since breaking into the top five.

  Belarusian Victoria Azarenka, the eighth seed, took down defending champion and fourth-seeded Marion Bartoli 3-6, 6-3, 6-3. Bartoli of France surprised American star Venus Williams in last year's finale here. Azarenka will battle Stosur in Saturday's semifinals.

  Sharapova defeated fellow countrywoman Elena Dementieva, the second seed, 6-4, 2-6, 6-3 on the hardcourts at Taube Family Tennis Stadium.

  In other quarterfinal action, third-seeded Pole Agnieszka Radwanska leveled Russian glamour girl Maria Kirilenko 7-5, 6-0.

  Radwanska will next face Sharapova.

  The big winner this week will receive $107,000.

  07/31 02:16:15 ET