Mubadala Abu Dhabi Open: Kasatkina moves into last four

Russian Daria Kasatkina, the No 7 seed, won against Romanian Sorana Cirstea 6-2, 6-0 to reach the semi-finals of the Mubadala Abu Dhabi Open at the International Tennis Centre, Zayed Sports City on Friday.

Kasatkina, ranked No 14, will play Brazilian Beatriz Haddad Maia, the No 6 seed, next.

In the previous rounds of the Abu Dhabi tournament, the Russian edged out French qualifier Diane Parry (6-4, 5-7, 6-4) and defeated American qualifier Ashlyn Krueger (6-3, 7-5).

Cirstea, ranked No 26, edged out Frenchwoman Caroline Garcia (6-7 (4), 6-4, 6-4) and won against Greek Maria Sakkari, the No 3 seed (6-2, 6-1) earlier in the tournament.

Abu Dhabi WTA 500, other last 8 results (International Tennis Centre, Zayed Sports City, hard, USD 922.573, most recent results first):

• Beatriz Haddad Maia beat Ons Jabeur (2): 6-3, 6-4
• Elena Rybakina (1) beat Cristina Bucsa (LL): 6-1, 6-4
• Liudmila Samsonova (8) beat Barbora Krejcikova (4): 7-5, 6-4