Second-seeded Victoria Azarenka advanced to the semifinals at the Kremlin Cup by defeating Alisa Kleybanova 6-1, 6-3 Friday.
The Belarusian will face eighth-seeded Maria Jose Martinez Sanchez on Saturday. Martinez Sanchez defeated Dominika Cibulkova 6-2, 6-3.
Maria Kirilenko routed qualifier Zarina Diyas 6-1, 6-2 to advance to the semifinals in her hometown event on her sixth attempt. Kirilenko had lost in the first round four times before falling to eventual champion Francesca Schiavone of Italy in the quarterfinals last year.
The 248th-ranked Diyas, who beat top-seeded Jelena Jankovic on Thursday, only held serve twice against the 24th-ranked Russian
''Maria played better today, while I was tired,'' said Diyas, who turned 17 on Monday. ''Though, it's no excuse.''
Diyas is expected to rise to around No. 175 in the WTA rankings next week.
In the men's quarterfinals, Pablo Cuevas eliminated fifth-seeded Radek Stepanek 6-4, 7-6 (3).
The 47th-ranked Cuevas has not dropped a set on the way to his first semifinal appearance this season. He also defeated three-time champion Nikolay Davydenko of Russia in the second round.
Viktor Troicki ousted Horacio Zebalos 6-2, 6-1.
