Ayumi Morita, Luksika Pliskova into Malaysian Open semifinals

Ayumi Morita is ranked No. 55 with zero career WTA singles tournament titles.

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Fourth-seeded Ayumi Morita of Japan defeated Thailand's Luksika Kumkhum 6-7, 6-4, 6-1 Friday to march into the Malaysian Open semifinals.

Morita needed just over two hours to dispatch her 19-year-old opponent and set up a semifinal against Karolina Pliskova.

The Czech advanced with a 7-5, 6-1 win over Austrian Patricia Mayr-Achleitner.