Top-ranked Caroline Wozniacki swept into the semifinals of the Brussels Open on Thursday when Yanina Wickmayer retired with an injured back after losing the first two games.
Wozniacki will now play French Open champion Francesca Schiavone, who beat Ayumi Morita of Japan 6-2 6-3.
Wickmayer needed a medical timeout after the second game to receive treatment on her lower back. The Belgian came back, hit a few weak returns of serve and called it quits to the disappointment of a few hundred fans at Primerose club.
“To see her in so much pain right now, it is unfortunate and especially in front of this amazing crowd,” Wozniacki said of the Belgian, whom she had already beaten twice this spring.
Next up is Schiavone, who beat the Dane in the quarterfinals of the 2010 French Open, the last time they met on clay.
“She is a great player, so it won’t be easy,” said Wozniacki, who has beaten her three times on hard court since then.
Third-ranked Vera Zvonareva beat Alexandra Dulgheru of Romania 6-0, 6-1 to set up the other semifinal match against Peng Shuai.
Zvonareva won the opening 10 games before conceding one to Dulgheru. The Russian is looking for her second title of the season.
Peng, who is ranked 31st, defeated Sofia Arvidsson of Sweden 6-2, 6-4. Zvonareva is up 7-0 in head-to-head record.
Just R20 for the first month. Support independent journalism by subscribing to our digital news package.