Clijsters takes over top spot after reaching semis

(CNN) -- Reigning U.S. Open and Australian Open champion Kim Clijsters is the new world number one after cruising past Jelena Dokic in straight sets to reach the semifinals of the Paris Open.

Clijsters won 12 games in a row, after losing the opening three, to defeat her Australian opponent 6-3 6-0 in the French capital.

It is the third time that the 27-year-old Belgian, who takes over from Denmark's Caroline Wozniacki at the top of the world rankings, has been ranked number one.

She first hit the heights in 2003, when she was number one for 12 weeks, and then again in 2006, spending seven weeks at the top of the rankings before retiring from tennis in 2007.

Clijsters told reporters: "It's really incredible to have been successful so quickly after my comeback.

"I have been playing well for some months now. I am happy to have become number one here in Europe -- the last time, it was in Los Angeles," she added.

Czech Petra Kvitova was the first player through to the semfinals, after she made it past a determined Yanina Wickmayer in three closely-fought sets.

The fourth seed eventually triumphed 5-7 6-3 7-6 over her seventh-seeded opponent to set up a last four encounter with Bethanie Mattek-Sands.

The unseeded American defeated sixth-seed Andrea Petkovic of Germany 7-6 2-6 6-3 to book her place in Saturday's semifinals.

Elsewhere on the WTA Tour at the Pattaya Open in Thailand, former world number one Ana Ivanovic was knocked out at the quarterfinal stage by Roberta Vinci.

The second-seeded Serb, who is currently ranked 19 in the world was beaten 7-5 6-3 by the fifth seed.

Next up for Vinci is Italian Fed Cup teammate Sara Errani, after the eighth seed came from a set behind to put out unseeded Galina Voskoboeva of Kazakstan 2-6 6-3 6-2.

In the other half of the draw the tournament's top seed and world number three Vera Zvonareva made it through to the semifinals courtesy of a 6-4 4-6 6-4 win over China's Shuai Peng.

The Russian two-time grand slam finalist will face fourth seed Daniela Hantuchova in the last four, after the Slovakian swept past Uzbekistan's Akgul Amanmuradova 6-2 6-0.

Meanwhile, Ivan Ljubicic of Croatia is through to the semifinals of the Rotterdam ATP indoor event after a hard-fought 6-4 6-7 7-6 victory over Cypriot Marcus Baghdatis.

Ljubicic will meet world number 18 Jo Wilfred-Tsonga for a place in the final after the Frenchman was awarded a walkover when fourth seed Tomas Berdych was forced to pull out of their quaterfinal with a flu virus.

Top seed and defending champion Robin Soderling is also through to the semifinals after beating Russian sixth seed Mikhail Youzhny 6-4 7-6 in a repeat of last year's final.

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