BIRMINGHAM, England (AP)—Maria Sharapova defeated qualifier Sesil Karatantcheva 6-2, 6-4 to reach the Aegon Classic semifinals on Friday.
Sharapova has made the semifinals in all seven visits to Birmingham, where the Edgbaston Priory Club has made her an honorary life member.
The Russian made it to the semis in her debut as a qualifier in 2003, won the grass-court title in 2004 and 2005 and was runner-up in 2007.
On Saturday, she'll face either Yanina Wickmayer, the third-seeded Belgian, or Alison Riske, a 19-year-old American qualifier.