/world sport
(CNN) -- Jelena Jankovic, the highest-ranked player left in the Pan Pacific Open in Tokyo, advanced to the semifinals on Thursday with a 6-4 6-3 win over Marion Bartoli.
Jelena Jankovic is favorite to win the Pan Pacific Open after cruising into the semifinal in Tokyo.
The Serbian seventh seed has become the favorite for the tournament after defending champion Dinara Safina, Venus Williams, Elena Dementieva, Caroline Wozniacki, Svetlana Kuznetsova and Vera Zvonareva all suffered shock early exits.
And Jankovic confirmed that status with a dominant showing against Frenchwoman Bartoli to book a last-four clash with Li Na.
Li was involved in a marathon quarterfinal with eighth seed Victoria Azarenka, needing three hours to seal a 7-6 4-6 7-6 win.
The other semifinal will be between the unseeded Maria Sharapova, a former winner here, and 11th seed Agnieszka Radwanska.
Sharapova beat Iveta Benesova 6-4 6-3, while Radwanska was a 6-3 6-1 winner against Magdalena Rybarikova.
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