BOGOTÁ, Colombia - Petra Martic had been to WTA quarterfinals three times in her career prior to this week, losing each time - at Portoroz in 2008 and 2009 and at Budapest in 2009. Now, after three consecutive straight set victories at the XIX Copa BBVA Colsanitas, the Croatian has posted her best-ever result.

After a tight first set Friday, Martic raced out to a 3-0 second set lead in defeating Laura Pous-Tio, 76(4) 63. All was not lost for Pous-Tio, though, as she and Sharon Fichman were victorious in doubles to move into Saturday's final against Edina Gallovits-Hall and Anabel Medina Garrigues.

In her first-ever semifinal on Saturday, Martic will square off with No.7 seed Lourdes Domínguez Lino after the Spaniard ended the run of qualifier Beatriz García Vidagany, 64 63. Domínguez Lino has played some of her best tennis at this event, competing every year since 2000, highlighted by winning her only career title in 2006 and reaching the final in 2005. Earlier in the day, García Vidagany finished off fellow qualifier Corinna Dentoni in the resumption of a second round match suspended by rain Thursday.

Also Friday, Mathilde Johansson let a 5-3 second set lead slip away before recovering to win the tie-break in her 63 76(5) win over Colombian wildcard Catalina Castaño, 63 76(5).

"I'm really happy to be in my first semifinal," said Johansson, whose best results before this week were quarterfinal appearances at Bogotá and Acapulco in 2009. "It was tough today with the crowd cheering against me, but I managed the situation in the end. I'm quite happy."

Next up for Johansson is No.5 seed Carla Suárez Navarro, who lost three straight games to open the second set before reeling off six in a row of her own to clinch a 64 63 triumph over Han Xinyun. The Spaniard will have her work cut out for her in pursuing her third career appearance in a final, as she is 0-2 all-time against Johansson.