Venus to meet Putinseva in Taiwan Open semifinals

KAOHSIUNG, Taiwan - Top-seeded Venus Williams beat Anastasija Sevastova of Latvia 7-5, 6-2 on Friday to advance to the semifinals of the Taiwan Open.

Williams won seven of 10 break points against her unseeded opponent to set up a semifinal against third-seeded Yulia Putintseva of Kazakhstan.

Putintseva won the first set 6-3 against Stefanie Voegele, after which the Swiss retired because of injury.

In other matches, local favorite and sixth-seeded Hsieh Su-Wei breezed past Elizaveta Kulichkova of Russia 6-0, 6-2.

Hsieh will face Japan's Misaki Doi who advanced when compatriot Kurumi Nara withdrew before the start of their match due to injury.