WTA roundup: Injuries KO two in Austin quarters

Two players were forced to withdraw from the ATX Open quarterfinals in Austin, Texas, due to injuries on Friday.

Third-seeded Danielle Collins of the United States had to withdraw from her match against sixth-seeded Xiyu Wang of China due to a lower back injury. Wang won the first set 6-2, and Collins shook her opponent's hand at the net.

"Sometimes this happens when the weather changes suddenly," Collins said, according to the Austin American-Statesman. "I think that played a role. That's arthritis for you. ... It creeps up on you sometimes."

Anastasia Sevastova was leading Slovakia's Anna Karolina Schmiedlova 6-4, 2-1 when she fell on a net approach and injured her left leg. She ended the match one point later.

Top-seeded Anhelina Kalinina of Ukraine will face Xiyu Wang in the semifinals, after defeating fifth-seeded Diane Parry of France 1-6, 6-4, 6-2.

Schmiedlova will face Yue Yuan, the eighth seed, who defeated Yafan Wang 6-3, 7-5 in an all-Chinese match.

Cymbiotika San Diego Open

Top-seeded Jessica Pegula of the United States defeated Russia's Anna Blinkova 6-1, 2-6, 6-2 to advance to the semifinals in San Diego.

Pegula is competing for the first time in a month, having missed time due to a neck injury. Her next opponent is sixth-seeded Marta Kostyuk of Ukraine, who defeated fourth-seeded Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova of Russia 3-6, 6-4, 6-3.

The other semifinal will be between third-seeded Emma Navarro of the United States and Katie Boulter of Great Britain. Navarro defeated Australia's Daria Saville 6-4, 6-2, and Boulter defeated seventh-seeded Donna Vekic of Croatia 6-4, 6-3.

SportsLigue