Sports

Kvitova downs defending champion Radwanska, will face Wozniacki in Dubai semifinals

Associated Press
Published | Updated

Petra Kvitova of Czech Republic returns to Agnieszka Radwanska of Poland returns during the quarterfinals of the Dubai Duty Free Tennis Championships in Dubai, United Arab Emirates, Thursday, Feb. 21, 2013. (AP Photo/Regi Varghese) (The Associated Press)

Caroline Wozniacki of Denmark reacts after winning a point in the final game of her match against Marion Bartoli of France during the quarterfinals of the Dubai Duty Free Tennis Championships in Dubai, United Arab Emirates, Thursday, Feb. 21, 2013. (AP Photo/Regi Varghese) (The Associated Press)

Former Wimbledon champion Petra Kvitova beat defending champion Agnieszka Radwanska 6-2, 6-4 Thursday to set up a semifinal against Caroline Wozniacki in the Dubai Championships.

The fourth-ranked Radwanska had no answers for the big-hitting Kvitova, who neutralized the Pole with a powerful forehand that contributed to 37 winners.

Kvitova, ranked eighth, broke serve four times in winning the first set. The second was tighter but Kvitova broke to go up 4-2 and the Czech won the match with a powerful forehand that Radwanska returned weakly into the net.

The former No. 1 Wozniacki beat Marion Bartoli 4-6, 6-1, 6-4. Bartoli's aggressive play kept the match close, but she was undone by her service game that resulted in 14 double-faults.