Top seed Kumkhum enters semis of ITF Women's Circuit

Top seed Luksika Kumkhum of Thailand outplayed Hong Kong's Wing Yau Venice Chan, 6-1, 6-1, Friday to enter the semifinal round of the 2011 ICTSI-International Tennis Federation (ITF) Women's Circuit Week 2 at the Rizal Memorial Tennis Center. Kumkhum will next face Yurina Koshino in the Final Four as the seventh-seeded Japanese earned a semis berth after Ting-Fei Juan retired in the second set of their quarterfinal match. "I hope to sustain my performance because my next opponents are stronger," said the Thai netter, who delivered four service aces during the match. "I didn't win Week 1, so I have an opportunity to get back in Week 2." Second seed Yi-Jing Zhao and Lu Guo arranged an all Chinese semis showdown after beating their respective Last 8 opponents in the two-week tournament where 50 women players around the world competed. Zhao blanked fellow Chinese Zi Yang, 6-2, 7-6 (4), while Guo rallied past compatriot Xin Wen, 1-6, 6-3, 6-4. In the doubles event, Kumkhum and Thai partner Peangtarn Plipuech clipped Korean pair Ji-Hee Choi and Kim Ki Ryang, 7-6 (3), 6-2, to earn the right of facing compatriots Napatsakorn Sankaew and Varunya Wongteanchai in the finals. Sankaew and Wongteanchai defeated Koreans Kyung Yee Chae and Kim Hae-Sung, 6-4, 2-6 (10-8), in the other semifinal match. — JVP, GMA News