Dominant Safina happy with 'best match'

LOS ANGELES // Dinara Safina crushed Victoria Azarenka 6-3, 6-1 in the Los Angles Classic quarter-finals to set up a clash with the world No 2 Jelena Jankovic. The fourth-seeded Safina said: "It was a perfect match. I have nothing bad to say. My coach said it was the best match I ever played." Jankovic, who could take over as the new world No 1 if she wins the event, defeated Nadia Petrova in straight sets 7-5, 6-4.

Meanwhile, the Italian Flavia Pennetta, the 10th seed, reached her first WTA Tour second tier semi-final with a battling 7-6, 3-6, 6-1 victory over the 14th seed Sybille Bammer of Austria. Pennetta was due to face the unseeded American Bethanie Mattek last night for a place in today's final. She said: "I think if I play my game, stay focused, I have a chance to go to the finals." * Reuters