Intro:

The World number one Victoria Azarenka is through to the Semi Finals of WTA Tour Porsche Grand Prix in Stuttgart after beating Mona Barthel in three sets.

Script:

World number one Victoria Azarenka faced German Mona Barthel in the quarter final of the WTA Tour Porsche Grand Prix in Stuttgart.

The Australian Open Champion, who has lost just once this season, prevailed in a tight first set to take it 6-4.

But Barthel, who had beaten both Ana Ivanovic and Marion Bartoli in earlier rounds, battled back impressively.

As the pair traded punishing ground strokes, Barthel grabbed the second set in a tie break 7-6 (3) at her first opportunity.

She followed that up with an early break at the start of the third set, but Azarenka recovered well, and despite squandering a match point at 5-4, finished off her opponent two games later to book her place in the final four.