Schiavone reaches Strasbourg semis

Francesca Schiavone, tuning up for the major championship she won two years ago, easily reached the semifinals Thursday at the Strasbourg International. Schiavone, winner of the French Open in 2010, eliminated Johanna Larsson 6-0, 6-3 to move closer to what would be her first title of the year. Her semifinal opponent will be Sloan Stephens, who defeated Ayumi Morita 6-3, 6-4. The French Open begins Monday in Paris, where Schiavone finished as the runner-up last year in defense of her championship. The other semifinal will send Pauline Parmentier against Alize Cornet. Cornet surprised fourth-seeded Medina Garrigues 7-6 (7-2), 7-6 (7-5) while Cornet defeated Alexandra Panova 6-3, 6-3.