Sorana Cirstea reached the semifinals of the Pattaya Open when top-seeded Vera Zvonareva of Russia retired Friday with left hip injury in the third set. The match was even at 2-6, 6-4, 2-2 when Zvonareva pulled out and sent Cirstea into the next round. “I rushed too much in the first set. Then I tried to be more patient and made her play more while my serves and returns were better in the second set,” Cirstea said. “However, I didn't notice that she was injured and was surprised she retired. I hope she will recover soon.” Cirstea, a 21-year-old Romanian who is seeded seventh, will next face either Maria Kirilenko of Russia or Tamarine Tanasugarn of Thailand. Also, Taiwanese qualifier Hsieh Su-wei beat Sania Mirza of India 7-5, 6-3. “I wasn't concerned much about reaching the semifinal. I just want to play one good match at a time,” said Hsieh, who will next play either Daniela Hantuchova of Slovakia or Vania King of the United States. Bartoli in quarters Second-seeded Marion Bartoli powered past Petra Martic of Croatia 7-5, 6-1 to reach the Open GDF Suez quarterfinals Thursday. Yanina Wickmayer of Belgium also moved into the quarters along with German pair Mona Barthel and Angelique Kerber. Bartoli hit a forehand return winner to clinch victory. The Frenchwoman won seven consecutive games to lead 4-0 in the second set despite seven double faults. “My serve cost me in the first set,” Bartoli said. Martic saved 16 break points but her form dropped in the final set. Wickmayer ousted American teenager Christina McHale 6-2, 7-5. Barthel defeated Pauline Parmentier 6-3, 6-0, hitting 26 winners to 6 for the French wild card. The German qualifier, who won the Hobart International last month in Australia, converted her second match point with a backhand crosscourt winner. Kerber, a US Open semifinalist, edged out Monica Niculescu of Romania 6-3, 4-6, 6-3.
