Robson upset earns semifinal spot in China

Laura Robson battled for more than 3 hours Thursday before claiming a quarterfinal upset win at the Guangzhou International Women's Open in China. Robson finished with a 7-5, 5-7, 6-2 decision over local favorite and seventh-seed Peng Shuai. Robson jumped out to a 5-1 lead in the first set before Peng fought back and had a break advantage in the second before Peng rallied and tied the match. Robson used a pair of early breaks in the third set for a lead she was able to hold in advancing to the tournament semifinals. She'll next face third-seeded Sorana Cirstea, who defeated No. 8-seeded Alize Cornet 6-4, 6-3 by posting a pair of breaks in each set. Fourth-seeded Urszula Radwanska topped No. 5-seed Chanelle Scheepers, the tournament's defending champion, 6-1, 7-5 and Hsieh Su-Wei beat Mathilde Johansson 6-3, 6-0 in earning a spot in Friday's semifinals. Hsieh, who won at Kuala Lumpur earlier this year, and Cirstea, the 2008 winner in Tashkent, are looking for their second WTA titles. Radwanska and Robson are yet to win on the main WTA tour.