Wozniacki advances to Indian Wells semifinals
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}Top-ranked Caroline Wozniacki advanced to the BNP Paribas Open semifinals when Victoria Azarenka retired with a hip injury while trailing 3-0 in the first set Thursday.
On the men's side, 25th-seeded Tommy Robredo withdrew before his quarterfinal against Juan Martin del Potro because of a strained left abductor muscle he suffered in his match a day earlier.
Wozniacki broke for a 2-0 lead after the first two games went to deuce. She was leading 30-0 in the third game when Azarenka called for a trainer.
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}Azarenka lay on the court and had her upper left thigh massaged before she took a 10-minute medical timeout. While she was gone, Wozniacki went behind a wall on court to stretch her legs and talked to her coach.
Azarenka returned with her left thigh wrapped. Wozniacki resumed serving and won the next two points to go up 3-0 before Azarenka signaled she was done.
The friends hugged at the net and Wozniacki patted Azarenka on the shoulder.
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}During their match, a Japanese flag was tied to the chair umpire's tower and written on it in black marker were the words, 'Our thoughts are with you. Caroline and Victoria.' After Azarenka left, Wozniacki untied it and held it up in tribute to the victims of the recent earthquake and tsunami.
By reaching the semifinals for her fourth straight tournament, Wozniacki guaranteed that she will retain the No. 1 ranking through the upcoming two-week Sony Ericsson Open in Miami.