SHANGHAI, Sept 19: Top seed Elena Dementieva beat fellow Russian Maria Sharapova 6-4 7-6 on Friday to ease into the semifinals of the Shanghai WTA event.

Sixteen-year-old Sharapova put up a spirited fight but was ultimately out-hit by her more experienced opponent.

Second-seeded Chanda Rubin, of the U.S., joined Dementieva in the last four by overpowering Germany’s Anca Barna 6-1 6-4 while crowd favourite and third seed Ai Sugiyama from Japan beat Russia’s Dinara Safina 6-4 7-6.

Sixth seed Alicia Molik of Australia stumbled out, however, falling 7-6 7-5 to Japan’s Akiko Morigami.

Morigami meets Rubin on Saturday in the semis, while Sugiyama faces the steely Dementieva.

Results:

Elena Dementieva (Russia) bt Maria Sharapova (Russia) 6-4 7-6 (7-4); Ai Sugiyama (Japan) bt Dinara Safina (Russia) 6-4 7-6 (9-7); Akiko Morigami (Japan) bt Alicia Molik (Australia) 7-6 (7-3) 7-5; Chanda Rubin (U.S.) bt Anca Barna (Germany) 6-1 6-4—Reuters