Friday, October 7 2005 12:55 Hrs (IST) - World Time -

New Delhi: Sania Mirza stormed into the semi-final of the USD 170,000 AIG Japan Open Tennis Championship today (Oct 07, 2005) after upsetting the top seed Vera Zvonareva of Russia in a three-setter.

Sania, seeded eight, fought her way back after losing the first set 5-7 against the 22-ranked Russian to wrap up the next two 6-2 6-4.

She will now meet the winner of the quarter-final contest between third seed Tatiana Golovin of France and Japan's Ai Sugiyama, seeded fifth.

Sania Mirza had yesterday defeated Aiko Nakamura 6-1 6-4 in the second round while Zvonareva beat Shahar Peer of France 6-3 7-5 to make it to the last eight.

In the doubles Sania, paired with Israel's Sahar Peer will meet second seed Gisela Dulko and Maria Kirilenko in the semi finals.

Sania and Peer had defeated the third seed pair of Tathiana Garbin and Nicole Pratt 6-2 6-1 to make it to the last four.