Tennis: Zvonareva reaches semifinals

Vera Zvonareva celebrates a point in her quarterfinal match against Petra Kvitova. Photo / Getty Images

Vera Zvonareva started the Australia Day proceedings at Rod Laver Arena on Wednesday with a 6-2, 6-4 win over Petra Kvitova, advancing to the Australian Open semifinals.

With many patrons draped in Australian flags and others wearing customary Outback-style hats in honor of the country's national holiday, Zvonareva advanced to a semifinal against either U.S. Open champion Kim Clijsters or Agnieszka Radwanska.

Zvonareva and Kvitova were surprised during the match when cannons went off in a nearby park. And Zvonareva asked that the match be stopped for a few minutes while a woman in her sightline was given medical attention in the stands, but chair umpire Mariana Alves told them to continue.

- AP