In-form Venus ousts favourite Vinci in Luxembourg

LUXEMBOURG: American Venus Willians beat top-seeded Roberta Vinci of Italy 7-6 (7-2), 6-4 on Friday to reach the semi-finals of the Luxembourg Open.

Playing in her first tournament since the US Open, Williams will next face Andrea Petkovic of Germany, who defeated Ksenia Pervak of Kazakhstan, 6-3, 6-2.

Petkovic, who shocked thirdseeded Jelena Jankovic in the second round, was in such commanding form as she needed less than an hour to win her tie.

Petkovic and Williams are both looking to win their first tournament of the year and will square off against one another in the semifinals.

The two have split their only two previous matchups, both in 2011.

The unseeded Williams has not won a tournament since 2010 in Dubai, while Petkovic has not reached a final since winning in Strasbourg in May of 2011.

Williams struggled with a back problem at the US Open but was happy with the way her body felt on her return to the court.

In the bottom half of the draw, Slovakian Daniela Hantuchova advanced to the round of four with a 7-5, 6-0 decision over Spaniard Lourdes Dominguez Lino.

Romanian Monica Niculescu, coming off an upset victory over the second-seeded Julia Goerges, made quick work of Lucie Hradecka, dispatching the Czech 6-0, 6-4 to advance to the semis.

Niculescu, who lost to Victoria Azarenka at the Luxembourg final last year, will next do battle with Hantchuova.

Hantuchova was runner-up in the 2007 Luxembourg Open and is in search of her second tournament victory of the year after winning the Pattaya Open in February.

The 2012 winner of this US$220,000 tournament will earn US$37,000.