Steffi Graf produced her most impressive tennis of the week to reach the semi-finals of the Edgbaston Classic at Birmingham, yesterday. Graf, the number one seed, and playing her first tournament since suffering a hamstring injury in March, took 68 minutes to dispose of Magui Serna of Spain 6-4, 6-4 on centre court.

The 28-year-old German broke Serna in the fifth game of the opening set and rarely looked in trouble on a court which has hardened and produced more bounce as the week has progressed.

Graf broke again in the opening game of the second set, only for Serna to hit back and take her opponent's serve.

But Graf was in determined mood, her only slip coming when she double-faulted on her first match point.

"I expected to play only two matches at this event, but now I will play at least four and that is further than I anticipated," the former world number one said.

"I have a little muscle soreness but otherwise I feel physically fine."

The seven-times Wimbledon champion will next meet French number three seed Nathalie Tauziat in the semi-finals.

Tauziat had earlier raced through her semi-final against Australia's Kerry-Anne Guse 6-2, 6-3 before saying she was determined to watch France in the World Cup later in the day.

The 30-year-old said: "I am a big football fan and plan to watch all France's games on TV. I am glad my match finished early."

The other semi-final will be between seventh seed Elena Likhovtseva of Russia and number six seed Yayuk Basuki of Indonesia.

Likhovtseva beat fourth seed Dominique Van Roost of Belgium 6-3, 6-4, and Basuki overcame second seed Irina Spirlea of Romania 6-4, 5-7, 7-5.