• WTA Tour

Wozniacki plays through the pain to reach Beijing semis

Caroline Wozniacki overcame a knee injury to seal her place in the semi-finals © Getty Images

Enlarge

Related Links

• News: Wozniacki snatches No. 1 spot from Serena
  
• Profile: Ana Ivanovic | Li Na | Francesca Schiavone | Caroline Wozniacki | Vera Zvonareva

Caroline Wozniacki showed the mark of a champion as she played through the pain barrier to seal her place in the semi-finals with victory Ana Ivanovic.

Wozniacki, who will be crowned world No. 1 on Monday, received treatment after landing awkwardly on her knee, but returned to the court to seal a 7-6(1) 6-4 victory.

Former world No. 1 Ivanovic, who has slipped outside the top 30 in the women's rankings, has enjoyed a return to form in Beijing, and showed glimpses of her best tennis that took her to French Open glory in 2008, forcing Wozniacki to work hard for the victory.

Trailing 5-4 in the opener, Ivanovic saved a set point before snatching the advantage with an inch-perfect shot down the line. However, she could not maintain the pressure in tie-break as the top seed stormed to a 6-0 lead before wrapping up the opening set.

After saving five break points in the first set, Ivanovic was not so resilient in the second, and Wozniacki snatched an early break as she moved closer to victory. But when the top seed collapsed to the floor after injuring her knee, it looked like the Dane may be forced to call it a day. But after receiving the attention of the physio, she dusted herself off and returned to court to close out the win.

Ivanovic battled hard, but Wozniacki's early break proved the difference in the second set. The top seed will now face No. 15 seed Shahar Peer, who got the better of Timea Bacsinszky 7-6(4) 6-4.

In the bottom half of the draw, second seed Vera Zvonareva will take on home favourite Na Li for a place in the final. US Open finalist Zvonareva needed less than an hour to power past fifth seed Francesca Schiavone 6-0 6-2, while Li had to battle past qualifier Anastasija Sevastova 7-6(6) 6-3.

© ESPN Sports Media Ltd.