Fifth Third Charleston 125 2: Brancaccio bagels, then survives close second set to reach semi-finals

Italian Nuria Brancaccio advanced to the semi-finals of the Fifth Third Charleston 125 2 by beating Spaniard Leyre Romero Gormaz, the No 5 seed, 6-0, 7-6 (4) on Friday evening.

Brancaccio, ranked No 211, will play the winner of the match between No 7 seed Hanna Chang and No 3 seed Varvara Lepchenko next.

The Italian won against Austrian Sinja Kraus (6-4, 6-4) and American Alycia Parks, the second seed (6-1, 6-3) ahead of her victory.

In the previous rounds, Romero Gormaz, ranked No 165, won against Canadian Stacey Fung (6-0, 6-1) and Pole Gina Feistel (6-4, 6-4).