Krejcikova and Ostapenko advance to Birmingham Classic semifinals

BIRMINGHAM, England (AP) — Top-seeded Barbora Krejcikova has cruised into the Birmingham Classic semifinals while No. 2-seeded Jelena Ostapenko had a far bumpier road. Krejcikova eased past fellow Czech Linda Fruhvirtova 6-3, 6-2. The 2021 French Open champion never faced a break point. Ostapenko, the 2017 French Open champion, rallied from a set and 4-0 down to overcome Magdalena Frech of Poland in three sets. Ostapenko will face No. 4-seeded Anastasia Potapova. Potapova thwarted the hopes of the last local singles player, Harriet Dart, of reaching her first WTA semifinal. Krejcikova has a semifinal against unseeded Zhu Lin of China. Zhu beat Rebecca Marino of Canada in three sets, mixing 10 aces with seven double faults.