SVITOLINA BEATS KERBER

dubai, united arab emirates» Top-seeded Angelique Kerber struggled with a knee injury during a 6-3, 7-6 (3) loss to seventh seed Elina Svitolina in the semifinals of the Dubai Tennis Championships on Friday.

Kerber would have reclaimed No. 1 ranking if she won the Dubai title, but that seemed of secondary importance after her loss.

“I’m not thinking about this,” Kerber said. “For me it’s important to be healthy.”

Svitolina beat Kerber for the third straight match and advances to play 10thseeded Caroline Wozniacki of Denmark, who earlier reached her second consecutive final of the season with a 6-3, 6-4 semifinal win over Latvian Anastasija Sevastova.

Favorite Thiem moves on B

rio de janeiro» Second-seeded Dominic Thiem beat Diego Schwartzman of Argentina 6-2, 6-3 to reach the Rio Open semifinals, where he is the favorite following No. 1 Kei Nishikori’s defeat in the first round.

The 23-year-old Austrian next faces Albert RamosVinolas. The Spaniard defeated Nicolas Kicker by the same score, breaking the Argentine’s serve three times.

Del Potro downs champ

B delray beach, fla.» Juan Martin del Potro never faced a break point and eliminated defending champion Sam Querrey 7-5, 7-5 to reach the Delray Beach Open semifinals.

Del Potro, the 2009 U.S. Open champion, overcame 16 aces by Querrey, who was seeded fourth.