BAD GASTEIN, Austria – Karin Knapp of Italy routed second-seeded Annika Beck of Germany 6-0, 6-1 at the Gastein Ladies on Friday to reach her third semifinal of the season.
The 69th-ranked Knapp didn't face a break point and converted all five chances to break Beck's serve. Beck had beaten Knapp in straight sets in Nuremberg last month.
Knapp, who also reached the semis in Slovakia and Colombia, will play Yvonne Meusburger of Austria for a place in the final.
Meusburger, coming off her second career final in Budapest last week, defeated Arantxa Rus of the Netherlands 6-1, 7-6 (1). The Austrian failed to serve out the match at 5-4 before converting her first match point in the tiebreaker.
In the other semifinal, Elina Svitolina of Ukraine will take on Andrea Hlavackova of Czech Republic.
Svitolina defeated Patricia Mayr-Achleitner of Austria 6-3, 6-0. Hlavackova reached her first career WTA semifinal by beating Austrian wild card Lisa-Maria Moser 6-3, 7-6 (4).
Receive your weekly recap of all the happenings around the world of sports.