Ex-champs Becker, Koukalova reach semis at rainy Topshelf

Published February 05, 2015

Benjamin Becker of Germany reached his first ATP semifinals in almost 2 1/2 years when he beat the equally desperate Vasek Pospisil of Canada 6-7 (3), 7-6 (5), 6-4 at the rainy Topshelf Open on Thursday.

Becker, who won his late ATP title here in 2009, was leading in the second set when their quarterfinal was interrupted for 90 minutes by rain. It didn't help Pospisil, who has been dealing with a lower back strain and lost for the 10th time in 13 matches since the Australian Open.

In his first semi since Memphis in February 2012, Becker will face Joao Sousa, the Portuguese qualifier who put awat Dutch wild card Thiemo de Bakker 6-4, 6-2.

On the women's side, Klara Koukalova of the Czech Republic, who won her first tournament here in 2005, dispatched Yaroslava Shvedova of Kazakhstan 6-2 6-4. She will face Coco Vandeweghe after the American qualifier defeated seventh seed Garbine Muguruza of Spain 7-6 (3), 6-1.

The other semi features Zheng Jie of China against Magdalena Rybarikova of Slovakia, both winners of four titles on tour.

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