Errani's eyes solely on semi-final

Caroline Garcia and Sara Errani booked their place in the semi-finals on either side of the draw at the Dubai Duty Free Women's Open at the Dubai Tennis Stadium.

Frenchwoman Garcia disposed of Andrea Petkovic in straight sets 6-3, 6-4 in an hourand-a-half, while Errani fought back from a set down for a 4-6, 6-1, 6-4 win against American Madison Brengle in nearly two- and- a- half hours of action on centre court. The remaining two quarter-finals were scheduled to be held later on Thursday with the second American in the draw, CoCo Vandeweghe, taking on Elina Svitolina, with former world number one Ana Ivanovic up against Barbora Strycova.

While the 22-year-old Garcia continued her run here with a methodical win, it was the resilience of Italian Errani that came to the fore as she fought back from a set down to win against a tiring American opponent.

"You always have to fight very hard and work hard against Andrea. She is a big fighter, always trying to come back in the match. It was very difficult conditions, very windy, sometimes more than (Wednesday). Yeah, sometimes it was not very nice tennis, not very rhythmic, but you have to stay focused and just keep your tactics on," Garcia said after making her first premier WTA semi-final.

"It has been a good start to the year and it's good now that I have won some matches on the WTA Tour, and now I've got a lot of confidence. I know my game is there, but you have to do another match," the French girl said. "It's never easy so it's good when everything comes together," she smiled.

A runner-up here in 2013, Errani was also relieved to have staged yet another recovery from a set down - and then 1-4 in arrears in the third set, to become the only player among the last eight who have previously advanced past the quarter-finals in Dubai.

"I just do not think too much about the court or anything. I just think that I can play and just think more on my game and more on fighting and playing every point, and then it comes. I was not thinking too much at being 4-1 down that I will win this set.