Zheng slays giant, again

China's Zheng Jie took another major step forward in her tennis career on Friday with a shock win over second-seeded Ana Ivanovic of Serbia to book a semifinal place at the China Open.

Cheered on by a frenzied home crowd, the Chinese tennis phenomenon stood up against the world No 4 to emerge victorious after a tussle that lasted nearly three hours to win 7-6 (4), 2-6, 6-4. She will next face Russian world No 7 Svetlana Kuznetsova who brushed aside Slovakia's Dominika Cibulkova 6-2, 6-4.

It is the first semifinal appearance for Zheng in a WTA Tour Tier II event. Her Friday win also helped the 25-year-old Sichuan native equal the best result of local players in the tournament - compatriot Peng Shuai had entered the semis in the 2006 edition.