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Top-ranked Serena Williams overcame Anabel Medina Garrigues 6-3, 0-6, 7-5 on Friday to reach the Madrid Open semifinals.

Williams looked in trouble after failing to win a game in the second set and going 4-2 down in the third. But the defending champion broke the Spaniard's serve twice to pull out the victory.

Second-seeded Maria Sharapova plays Kaia Kanepi in a late quarterfinal.