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Rezai shocked by qualifier in quarter-finals

Aravane Rezai made a shock exit on Friday © Getty Images

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The number two seed, Aravane Rezai, was shocked by wildcard Romina Oprandi in the quarter-finals of the SNAI Open on Friday.

Rezai, who had made serene progress into the last eight, had looked on course for a second consecutive title after she won the Swedish Open last week. However, in a real crowd-pleaser, she was upset by home favourite Oprandi 7-5 6-0.

Neither girl could look after her serve effectively in an opening set that yielded five breaks, with the fifth crucially going in Oprandi's favour. Rezai did not win a single point on her second serve as her opponent leapt all over the returns.

A French fightback was expected in the second set, but Rezai appeared to run out of steam as three more unanswered breaks of serve ended her challenge in abrupt fashion. Oprandi meets No. 5 seed Kaia Kanepi for a place in the final after the Estonian beat third seed Sara Errani 6-2 6-2.

Julia Goerges was in fine form as she booked her place in the other semi-final, boasting far too much class for Jill Craybas. Goerges usurped her opponent by six breaks to three in order to set up a last-four meeting with Flavia Pennetta, who beat Nuria Llagostera Vives 6-4 6-2.

In the Prague Open, Patty Schnyder will meet No. 8 seed Barbora Zahlavova Strycov in the semi-finals. Schnyder recovered from a shaky start to beat Anna Tatishvili 2-6 6-2 7-5, while Zahlavova Strycov also needed three sets to beat Johanna Larson 6-2 4-6 7-5.

The other semi will see Lucie Hradecka take on Agnes Szavay, who beat Polona Hercog 6-1 6-4.

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