Groth into semis

Australian Jarmila Groth is on track for her first WTA title after advancing to the last four of the Istanbul Cup.

Groth, 23, stunned defending champion Vera Dushevina of Russia in the quarter-finals 7-5 6-2 converting four of her five break point opportunities and dominating with blistering returns.

Fellow Aussie Anastasia Rodionova wasn't so lucky, losing to another Russian Elena Vesnina 7-5 6-1.

Great Britain's Elena Baltacha could not repeat her shock win over Francesca Schiavone as she crashed to a 6-4 6-0 loss.

Baltacha had surprisingly ousted the top seed and French Open champion in the previous round but sixth seed Andrea Petkovic of Germany was too strong this time.

Third seed Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova was also successful, with the Russian seeing off Romania's Sorana Cirstea 6-4 6-2.

Groth wasn't the only Aussie to enjoy success on the WTA with Samantha Stosur also reaching the semi-finals at the Bank of the West Classic event in Stanford, California.

Stosur, the tournament's top seed, scored a 7-5 3-6 6-3 quarter-final win over Yanina Wickmayer, the Belgian seventh seed.

Victoria Azarenka of Belarus beat defending champion Marion Bartoli 3-6 6-3 6-3 in their quarter-final.

Third-seeded Agnieszka Radwanska of Poland beat Belarus' Maria Kirilenko 7-5 6-0 in another quarter-final and should move back into the top 10 when the rankings are released next week.