Intro:

Defending champion Tsvetana Pironkova advanced to the semi-finals of the Apia International Sydney on Wednesday (14th January) where she will face World No 4, Petra Kvitova.

Script:

Action from the Apia Sydney International continued on Wednesday with the quarter-final between Tsvetana Pironkova play Barbora Zahlavova Strycova.

Pironkova here at set point of Strycova's serve, found this passing shot to take the opener.

The second was far easier for the Bulgarian, as the World No 67 raced into a double break lead at 5-1 and simply waited for the mistake from the Czech.

Pironkova would play the winner of either Petra Kvitova or Australian wildcard Jarmilla Gajdosova.

The Australian was the one remaining local hope and she got off to a great start. Gajdosova breaking the World No 4 to lead 2-1.

The World No 68 had already beaten World No 13 and 11 Andrea Petkovic and Dominika Cibulkova, and she kept her nerve through the first set taking it 6-4.

Yet the Wimbledon Champion found her rhythm and levelled up the match with some thunderous shots.

The third set was a closer affair, however Kvitova's pace on the ball was just too much for Gajdosova.

Kvitova had found the break at 4 all, and took it 4-6, 6-3, 6-4, setting up a mouth-watering clash with defending Champion Pironkova.