Kerber advances to Indian Wells semis after Stosur withdraws
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Angelique Kerber has advanced to the semifinals of the BNP Paribas Open after quarterfinal opponent Samantha Stosur withdrew because of a right calf injury.
Stosur was hurt during her fourth-round win over Mona Barthel.
"I hurt my right calf muscle in the last game of my match against Mona Barthel when I was serving for the match, so I don't know if you can get any more unlucky than that," Stosur said Thursday morning.
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"It's really disappointing. I love the conditions here at the BNP Paribas Open and I love playing in front of this crowd, so to have to pull out without even being able to get on court is probably as bad as it gets. I think this is only the second time I've ever pulled out of a match in my career, and unfortunately there isn't anything I can do about it."
The fourth-seeded Kerber will next play the winner of Thursday's other scheduled quarterfinal between top-seeded Victoria Azarenka and former world No. 1 Caroline Wozniacki.
Kerber will play in her second semifinal of 2013, having lost to Dominika Cibulkova in the Sydney semis back in January.
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Maria Sharapova and Maria Kirilenko have already advanced to the final four, winning quarterfinal matches on Wednesday. Sharapova, the 2006 Indian Wells champ and last year's runner-up to Azarenka, topped Sara Errani in straight sets, while Kirilenko dumped fifth-seeded Czech Petra Kvitova in three.
This Premier Mandatory WTA event will pay its newest champion $1 million.