Mumbai: Fifth seed Luksika Kumkhum of Thailand knocked out top seed Saisai Zheng of China 3-6, 6-4, 6-4 to reach the semi-finals of the WTA Mumbai Open $125K Series at the Cricket Club of India here on Friday.

The Thai World No. 103 came from a set down before outplaying the Chinese in a match that lasted 2 hours and 17 minutes. Saisai’s early exit has thrown the draw, which has already lost three out of the four top seeds, wide open.





“Sometimes you have nothing to lose and just have to find a way to win. When it’s a tough day I don’t think about it and just keep playing. I have played Saisai earlier this year and it was quite different that time,” Luksika said.

Luksika will meet sixth seed Margarita Garparyan in the semis on Saturday. Unseeded Danka Kovinic who had knocked out fourth seed Serbian Olga Danilovic in first round couldn’t continue her giant-killing run against Margarita. The Russian won 7-6(4), 4-6, 6-1.

Results (QF): Luksika Kumkhum (Tha) bt Saisai Zheng (Chn) 3-6, 6-4, 6-4; Margarita Gasparyan (Rus) bt Danka Kovinic 7-6(4), 4-6, 6-1.