BEIJING: Defending champion Jelena Jankovic of Serbia beat Croatian teen sensation Ana Konjuh in the semifinals of the WTA Guangzhou International Women’s Open Friday. Second seed Jankovic, who is yet to drop a set in China, is now just one win away from defending her title and claiming the $226,750 top prize. She followed up her straight-sets victory over Sabine Lisicki Thursday with a hard-fought triumph over US open quarterfinalist Konjuh. Former world number one Jankovic beat Konjuh, 7-5, 7-6(7) to advance to the final, pulling off a brilliant comeback to avoid a decider, reeling in Konjuh’s 4-1 lead to force a tie-break, then thwarting two break points before completing the win. She will face Lesia Tsurenko after the Ukrainian player surged past Estonian Anett Kontaveit 6-4, 6-2.