Morita closer to first title in Malaysia

KUALA LUMPUR: Japan's Ayumi Morita edged closer to winning her first ever WTA title after reaching the semi-finals of the BMW Malaysian Open on Friday.

The fourth seed had to dig deep in the quarter-final before getting the better of qualifier Luksika Kumkhum. The Thai gave as good as she got before Morita stepped up through the gears to win 6-7 (7-9), 6-4, 6-1.

"I'm very happy to be in my fourth career semi-finals. I hope to continue doing my best and try to go further this time," she said.

Morita, who ranks 55 in the world, will meet 127th-ranked Karolina Pliskova of the Czech Republic in Saturday's semi-final.

The Japanese player calls Malaysia her "second home" after playing in the tournament since the inaugural event in 2010.

That year she also reached the semi-final, while in 2011 and last year she only managed to reach the last eight. Morita also got to the semis in Strausbourg and Guangzhou in 2009.

The 22-year-old said her opponent had played "very well" despite sweltering conditions in the Southeast Asian country. Rain delayed play on the first three days.

Meanwhile, Pliskova eliminated Austrian Patricia Mayr-Achleitner 7-5, 6-1 to set-up the meeting with Morita.

Pliskova is eyeing a double in Malaysia as she and her twin Kristyna will play Polish pair Marta Domachowska and Alicja Rosolska in the doubles semi-final later Friday. (AFP)