Chennai, Oct. 31 -- Third seed Donna Vekic, the highest remaining seed in the singles draw at the WTA Chennai Open, was knocked out in the quarterfinal round on Friday by seventh seeded Australian Kimberley Birrell in straight sets.
Birrell defeated Vekic 6-4, 6-0 to score her second win over the Olympic silver medalist in four career meetings and avenge a first-round loss at Wimbledon this year.
Birrell will next face Chinese Taipei's Joanna Garland, who defeated Australian lucky loser Arina Rodionova 6-2, 7-6 to book her spot in her first WTA Tour-level semi-final.
Fourth seed Janice Tjen, of Indonesia, continued her remarkable run this season by defeating 17-year-old wildcard Mia Pohankova 6-3,6-1.
The 23-year-old Tjen began the seas...