Azarenka reaches semis in Linz

Top-ranked Victoria Azarenka reached her 10th semifinal of the season Friday by defeating Petra Martic of Croatia 6-2, 6-2 at the Generali Ladies. Azarenka won the first 10 points to help build a 4-0 lead before Martic clawed her way back into the match. The Croat had a break in the second set to level at 2-2 but did not win another game. Azarenka will next play either Bethanie Mattek-Sands of the United States or Irina-Camelia Begu of Romania. Julia Goerges also reached the semifinals after beating Sofia Arvidsson of Sweden 6-1, 6-4. From 1-1 in the opening set, the fifth-seeded German won seven straight games. Arvidsson broke back to level at 4-4 in the second but then dropped her serve for the fourth time in the match.