Serena Williams reaches Auckland semifinals

Serena Williams reached the Auckland classic semi-finals with a straight-set victory over Germany’s Laura Siegemund.

The 23-time grand slam singles champion beat 73rd-ranked Siegemund 6-4 6-3.

Williams, whose last singles title came at the 2017 Australian Open, will play fellow American Amanda Anisimova after she beat Eugenie Bouchard 6-2 3-6 6-4.

Caroline Wozniacki reached the semi-finals with a 6-1 6-4 victory over the 2019 champion, German fourth seed Julia Gorges.

The Dane, who will retire after the Australian Open in Melbourne, will next play unseeded American Jessica Pegula.

Wozniacki and Williams will play their doubles semi-final against Belgian pair Kirsten Flipkens and Alison Van Uytvanck later on Friday.