Russian players 4th seed and 72nd ranked Elena Vesnina and unseeded Evgeniya Rodina were the other players to make it to the semifinals of the event.

In a battle of Romanians which was the biggest match of the day 81st ranked and fifth seeded Monica Niculescu overcame painful blisters and top seed 27th ranked Alexandra Dulgheru to enter her maiden semifinal in the Tashkent Open,winning 7-5 (5), 2-6, 6-3 in an encounter that lasted 2 hour 41 minutes.

Seventh seeded and 103 ranked Alla Kudryavtseva of Russia , the runnersup at Gunagzhou event last week ended the challenge of her close friend and local favourite 2nd seeded Akgul Amanmuradova 7-6(7-5),6-3 in 1 hour and 31 minute battle .

Fourth seeded and 72nd ranked Elena Vesnina became the second player from Russia to make it to the last four at the event when she outplayed Belarusian’ Darya Kustova 6-0, 6-1 in the easiest match of the day lasting just 48 minutes.

109th ranked Evgeniya Rodina was the third Russian player to make it to the last four as she won the dual of unseeded players beating 121st ranked Stefanie Voegele (Switzerland) 6-4,4-6,6-0 in 1 hour and 47 minute.

“My blisters are getting worse every day, but my game is getting better," said Monica after her match. “This was the first time that I have beaten Dulgheru as well as a Top-50 player, and it is the biggest win of my career ” said Nicolescu.

In the toughest match of the event so far Dulgheru and Niculescu traded breaks in thrice in the first set forcing a tiebreaker , Niculescu raced to a 6-1 lead in the tiebreak , but Dulgheru managed to reduce the deficit to 6-5 , before Niculescu closed a point and win the first set.

In the second set Dulgheru managed to get back her rythmn breaking Niculescu in the 1 and 3rd games to win the second set 6-2 and level scores and force tie break.

In the third set Niculescu who did everything right in the match , broke the top seed in the 2nd game , Dulgheru broke back in the 5th game , but was broken back immediately in the 6th game again. Niculescu held on to the lead and closed out the match with a brilliant unorthodox double handed forehand winner and enter her first semi finals.

Local star Akgul Amnamuradova squandered a 3-0 lead in the first set to allow, close friend Alla Kudryavtseva to win 5 games in row and take a 5-3 lead, the local star managed to find her bearings breaking back the Seventh seed Russian in the 10th game and hold her on to her serve in a difficult 11th game saving a set point and forcing the tiebreak.

Akgul had her chances leading 5-3 in the tiebreak, but Kudryavtseva showed grit and battled to take four points in a row and clinch the first set 7-6(5). In the second set the Russian broke Akgul in the 2nd and 6th games to clinch the set 6-3 and dash Akgul’s hope of a win at home.

"Akgul is a close friend of mine, but I kept these things away today ,I’m thrilled to continue my form from Guangzhou last week and reach the semifinals here, Said Alla after the match. " I have mixed reactions for Akgul and wish her success and hope she makes a comeback and wins the event next week ". she added.

Alla will now take on unseeded country mate Evgeniya Rodina who stopped another unseeded player Stefanie Voegele of Switzerland 6-4,4-6,6-0.In the first set Rodina brokeVoegele in the 9th game to take the first set. in the second set Rodina lost her serve in the 10th game and let Voegele level set scores.

The Russian proved too strong for the petite Swiss player wrapping up the third set with breaks in the 1st , 3rd and 5th games to make it to the first ever career Tour event Semifinals.

Elina Vesnina seeded fourth and the highest remaining seed at the event , kept her steady progress scoring facile 6-0,6-1 win and will take on giant killer Niculescu in the semifinals tomorrow.