Kostanic and Sprem in Semifinals

Friday, August 8, 2003
(08-08) 10:39 PDT ESPOO, Finland (AP) --

Second-seeded Anna Pistolesi of Israel advanced to the semifinals of the Nordea Nordic Light Open with a 6-3, 6-0 victory over Ludmila Cervanova on Friday.

Pistolesi is on an eight-match winning streak, including her run to the title last weekend in Sopot, Poland.

Qualifier Jelena Kostanic of Croatia also won a quarterfinal, downing countrywoman Silvija Talaja 6-3, 6-2 in the $140,000 clay-court tournament.

Vera Douchevina, a 16-year-old Russian, defeated Melinda Czink of Hungary 7-5, 6-0. She next plays Kostanic, whom she beat in a recent final in Austria.

Karolina Sprem of Croatia advanced when fourth-seeded Petra Mandula of Hungary withdrew because of a thigh strain. Sprem, seeded eighth, will play Pistolesi in the other semifinal.

http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/news/archive/2003/08/08/sports1331EDT0298.DTL