Stanford, CA (SportsNetwork.com) - Top-seeded Serena Williams outlasted Ana Ivanovic in the quarterfinals on Friday at the Bank of the West Classic, a U.S. Open Series tennis event.
Although Williams dropped the first set, she fought back to take a hard-fought 2-6, 6-3, 7-5 victory and reach the semifinals. Williams took home the title at this event in 2011 and 2012.
Williams was on course to face her sister, Venus, in the semis, but third- seeded German Andrea Petkovic edged the unranked American 6-1, 3-6, 7-5.
Third-seeded Angelique Kerber was an easy quarterfinal winner as the German leveled promising 20-year-old Spaniard Garbine Muguruza 6-2, 6-1 on the hardcourts at Taube Family Tennis Center.
Kerber will next face Varvara Lepchenko, who defeated Sachia Vickery 6-1, 6-0.
The 2014 Stanford champion will claim $120,000.
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