2^nd seed Petra Kvitova rallied from a set down to topple local hope Jarmila Gajdosova to progress to the semifinals of the Apia International Sydney on Wednesday.

The fancied Czech fired 12 aces en route her 4-6, 6-3, 6-4 conquest in a grueling quarterfinal encounter that lasted for over two hours at the Ken Rosewall Arena.

Meanwhile, 5^th-seeded Angelique Kerber of Germany also overcame a first-set debacle to clinch a 0-6, 6-1, 6-4 win over Spain’s Garbine Muguruza in the other semifinal encounter.

Elsewhere, Karolina Pliskova defeated Carla Suarez Navarro 4-6, 6-4, 6-0; Tsvetana Pironkova downed Barbora Zahlavova Strycova 6-4, 6-1.

DOUBLES – QUARTERFINAL RESULTS

(1) R Kops-Jones/A Spears d. AM Garriques/Y Shvedova (7-6, 6-7, 10-5)

T Babos/K Mladenovic d. C Garcia/K Srebotnik (3-6, 6-3, 10-8)

K Date-Krumm/K Pliskova d. (4) H Chan/K Peschke (7-6, 6-2)

B Mattek-Sands/S Mirza d. (2) M Hingis/F Pennetta (6-3, 6-3)

(Image: apiainternational.com.au)