Tennis: Baker through to doubles semis in challenger event

2.00pm

New Zealand tennis pro Leanne Baker has reached the doubles semifinals at the US$25,000 ($NZ36,662) challenger event at Sint-Katelijine-Waver, Belgium.

Baker and Italian partner Francesca Lubiani beat Dia Evitova of Bulgaria and Debbrich Feys of Belgium 6-1 6-2 in the first round and followed that up with a 6-0 6-2 victory over Russians Ekaterina Bychkova and Maria Kondratieva.

Their semifinal opponents are yet to be confirmed.

In Japan, Shelley Stephens and Australian partner Emily Hewson have been beaten in the doubles semifinals of the US$25,000 challenger event at Sutama.

Stephens and Hewson were the top seeds but lost to Japanese fourth seeds Kaori Aoyama and Ayami Takase 7-6 (7-4) 6-2.

- NZPA