Argentina Open: Riera beats Hercog to make semi-finals

Argentinian Julia Riera, the No 7 seed, knocked out Slovenian Polona Hercog 6-3, 6-4 to advance to the last four of the Argentina Open at the Buenos Aires Lawn Tennis Club.

Riera, ranked No 163, will play the winner of the match between Frenchwoman Diane Parry, the top seed, and Argentinian Maria Lourdes Carle, the No 8 seed, next.

The 21-year-old Argentinian defeated Frenchwoman Selena Janicijevic (7-5, 6-3) and Romanian Miriam Bulgaru (6-2, 6-3) ahead of her victory.

In the previous rounds of the Argentinian tournament, Hercog, ranked No 292, benefited from the abandonment of Frenchwoman Carole Monnet, the No 9 seed (6-4, 0-2) and beat Ukrainian Valeriya Strakhova (6-1, 1-6, 6-3).

Buenos Aires WTA 125, other quarter-finals results (Buenos Aires Lawn Tennis Club, USD 115.000, most recent results first):

• Laura Pigossi vs. Solana Sierra
• Renata Zarazua vs. Elizabeth Mandlik
• Diane Parry vs. Maria Lourdes Carle