ESPN Tennis

PALERMO, Sicily -- Karin Knapp of Italy upset fourth-seeded Emilie Loit of France 6-3, 7-6 Friday to advance to the semifinals at the Palermo International for the first time.

The 20-year-old rallied from 2-5 in the second set. She lost in the quarterfinals of the clay-court event last year.

No. 2 seed Martina Mueller of Germany, No. 8 Agnes Szavay of Hungary and Italian wild card Sara Errani also advanced.

Mueller battled past Flavia Pennetta of Italy 6-3, 3-6, 6-4 to set up a meeting with Knapp. It will be Mueller's first semifinal at Palermo also.

Szavay beat No. 3 Agnieszka Radwanska 6-0, 6-3 to snap the Pole's seven-match winning streak.

The 18-year-old Szavay will play Errani, who defeated Lourdes Dominguez Lino of Spain 6-2, 6-0 to reach her first WTA Tour semifinal.

Knapp and Errani are trying to become the first home winner in the tournament's 19-year history.

Copyright 2007 by The Associated Press