Defending champion Daniela Hantuchova recovered from a slow start to reach the semi-finals of the PTT Pattaya Open in Thailand.

Hantuchova fell behind to an early break against eighth seed Vania King but recovered in time to claim a straight-sets 7-6 (9/7) 6-4 success in just under two hours.

The Slovakian will meet qualifier Hsieh Su-wei in the last four after the world number 159 continued her unlikely run with a 7-5 6-3 win over Sania Mirza.

Top seed Vera Zvonareva limped out of her clash with Sorana Cirstea.

The match had been evenly poised at 2-6 6-4 2-2 before the former Wimbledon finalist was forced to retire.

Cirstea, the seventh seed, will next meet another Russian for a place in the final after Maria Kirilenko beat local hopeful Tamarine Tanasugarn 7-6 (7/2) 6-1.