CARSON, Calif.(AP) Samantha Stosur rallied for a 4-6, 6-3, 6-4 quarterfinal victory over Zheng Jie of China at the LA Women's Tennis Championships on Friday, moving the Aussie doubles specialist into the semifinals for the second consecutive week.
Stosur has enjoyed a solid run in singles the last few months, reaching a career-best ranking of 18th in June. She has yet to win a singles title on the WTA Tour, although she's been a four-time runner-up, including once last year.
A week ago, Stosur defeated Serena and Venus Williams before losing to eventual winner Marion Bartoli in the semifinals at Stanford. She beat then-No. 2 Dinara Safina in the quarterfinals at Miami in March and reached the French Open semis in June.
The 25-year-old Australian is best known for her doubles success, including 22 career titles, the world's No. 1 ranking and two Grand Slam mixed titles.
Stosur scored her second win over the 14th-seeded Zheng this week, having beaten the Chinese woman in doubles on Wednesday. Stosur's booming serve at 40-love closed out their singles match and avenged a three-set loss to Zheng at Dubai in February.
Stosur, seeded 13th, advanced to Saturday's semifinals against Sorana Cirstea of Romania, a 7-6 (4), 1-6, 7-5 winner over eighth-seeded Agnieszka Radwanska of Poland. The Aussie will be able to concentrate fully on singles after she and partner Rennae Stubbs were knocked out of doubles.
Maria Sharapova, on the comeback trail after a shoulder injury, was to play Radwanska's sister Urszula in a night match.
Stosur needed two hours to put away Zheng, who upset No. 1-ranked Safina in three sets in the third round Thursday. Stosur connected on 77 percent of her first serves and saved 5-of-8 break points, including the only one in the third set.