Tennis roundup \ Thursday’s events
WTA Championships
DOHA, Qatar — Serena Williams became the first player to clinch a spot in the semifinals of the WTA Sony Ericsson Championships, defeating Elena Dementieva 6-2, 6-4 for her third straight win in the tournament’s round-robin group phase. Her sister Venus, the defending champion, stayed alive by beating Svetlana Kuznetsova 6-2, 6-7 (3), 6-4 for her first win in three matches. She needs Kuznetsova to beat Dementieva on Friday to have a chance of advancing to the semifinals. Earlier, Caroline Wozniacki overcame severe leg cramps and a tenacious Vera Zvonareva to win 6-0, 6-7 (3), 6-4. After the match, Zvonareva, who replaced the injured No. 1 Dinara Safina on Wednesday, pulled out the tournament citing a right ankle injury. Her place will be taken by the second alternate, Agnieszka Radwanska of Poland.
BA Trophy
VIENNA — Marin Cilic and Gael Monfils retained their slim chances of reaching next month’s ATP World Tour Finals by toughing out second-round wins at the BA Trophy. The top-seeded Cilic beat Daniel Brands of Germany 7-6 (7), 6-4, while the third-seeded Monfils overcame Jan Hajek of the Czech Republic 6-1, 2-6, 6-4.
Lyon Grand Prix
LYON, France — Top-seeded Jo-Wilfried Tsonga led five Frenchmen into the Lyon Grand Prix quarterfinals by beating Olivier Rochus of Belgium 6-3, 6-2. Tsonga was joined by second-seeded Gilles Simon, former Lyon finalist Marc Gicquel, Arnaud Clement and Michael Llodra.
St. Petersburg Open
ST. PETERSBURG, Russia — Russian players Mikhail Youzhny and Igor Andreev retired because of injury in second-round matches at the St. Petersburg Open.