Third seeded Sania Mirza [Images] made short work of Olga Govortsova of Belarus to book her first-ever singles semi-final berth at the US $175,000 Cincinnati Open tennis tournament on Friday.

The Indian ace, who was eliminated in the quarter-finals of last two editions of the event, thrashed Govortsova 6-1, 6-1 in just 51 minutes in a last eight stage match of the WTA Tier III tournament.

She faces world number eight and top seeded Anna Chakvetadze [Images] of Russia [Images], who is playing in the tournament for the first time.

Sania said the victory has given her much-needed confidence ahead of the challenging semi-final.

"You want to win at any stage of the tournament, but it (the score 6-1, 6-1) does give you extra confidence. You're in the quarter-finals, so you're playing the best eight, and you get an easy win," the 20-year-old said.

Chavetadze advanced to the semi-finals after her opponent compatriot Elena Vesnina, seeded sixth, retired with a right shoulder strain. Vesnina was trailing 6-7 (3/7), 6-0, 4-1 when she conceded the match.

Chakvetadze had defeated Mirza 6-4, 6-1 in Hobart, Australia, in their only career meeting earlier this year.

Results: Akiko Morigami (Japan [Images]) beat Patty Schnyder (Switzerland [Images]) 6-3, 6-1; Akgul Amanmuradova (Uzbekistan) beat Lilia Osterloh (US) 6-1, 6-4; Anna Chakvetadze (Russia) beat 6-Elena Vesnina (Russia)  6-7(3), 6-0, 4-1 RET; Sania Mirza (India) beat Olga Govortsova (Belarus) 6-1, 6-1.

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