Drake-Brockman in Tennis Semifinals

Unseeded Siobhan Drake-Brockman defeated Paraguay’s Larissa Schaerer on Friday, 6-3, 6-4, to advance to the semifinals of the U.S. Tennis Assn. Women’s Challenger of Newport Beach at the Newport Beach Marriott.

Drake-Brockman, an Australian who eliminated second-seeded Rene Simpson of Canada in the opening round, faces fourth-seeded Mercedes Paz of Argentina, a 6-0, 4-6, 6-2 winner over Kristina Triska of Boca Raton, Fla.

Third-seeded Emmanuelle Gagliardi of Monaco also advanced to the semifinals with a 6-4, 6-3 victory over Germany’s Marketa Kochta.

Ukraine’s Elena Brioukhovets, seeded seventh, defeated Brandis Braverman of Newport Beach, 6-3, 6-2, and will face Gagliardi. Braverman had opened the tournament by upsetting the top-seeded player, Jolene Watanabe of Arcadia, 6-3, 6-1.