Kuznetsova To Challenge Azarenka In Semifinals

World No. 8 Svetlana Kuznetsova fought off a strong challenge from No. 12 Caroline Wozniacki 6-4, 6-7(5), 6-1 to reach the semifinals of the Sony Ericsson Open on Tuesday.

Kuznetsova looked set to record a comfortable victory as she led 6-4, 5-2 with a double break advantage. However, Wozniacki hit back to win five of the next six games, saving three match points on the way, to level the match and force a third set. Kuznetsova was quick to regain control though and opened up a 3-0 lead in the final set before going on to break once more to secure victory after two hours and 54 minutes on Stadium.

Kuznetsova admitted afterwards that the hot conditions and resulting cramping had caused her problems in the match: “She (Wozniacki) was running and she was recovering many balls. She forced me to miss. But I think when I was playing the right tactics and the right game and mixing her up I was in control of everything. I was until score 5-3 feeling very comfortable out there, but I got so dizzy and tired. The conditions played a big role in my game.”

The 23-year-old Kuznetsova triumphed in Miami in 2006, with victory over Maria Sharapova, and today improved her event match record to 20-5. The Russian also reached the semifinals last year but lost out to eventual champion Serena Williams in three sets, having defeated Venus Williams in the quarterfinals.

Former World No. 2 Kuznetsova has suffered a title drought since August 2007, when she won her ninth WTA singles title at New Haven (d. Szavay). The St. Petersburg native became the first Russian lady to win the US Open singles title in 2004 (d. Dementieva) and was also a runner-up at 2006 Roland Garros and the 2007 US Open – losing to Justine Henin on both occasions.

The right-hander is through to her first semifinal of the season, after making quarterfinal exits at Sydney (l. to Sugiyama) and the Australian Open (l. to eventual champion S. Williams). She is looking to reach her first WTA Tour singles final since September 2008, when she finished runner-up to Jelena Jankovic in Tokyo.

The 18-year-old Wozniacki, who defeated No. 4 seed Elena Dementieva in the fourth round on Monday, dropped to an 18-7 match record on the season. The Dane has reached the quarterfinals or better at six events this season, highlighted by a runner-up finish to Victoria Azarenka in Memphis and a last eight appearance in Indian Wells (l. to Zvonareva) last week.

In the semifinals, Kuznetsova will face World No. 10 Victoria Azarenka, who was in a ruthless mood on Tuesday evening as she dismantled No. 42 Samantha Stosur 6-1, 6-0 to reach the Sony Ericsson Open semifinals for the first time.

Kuznetsova has won all three of her previous meetings with Azarenka, including twice on hard court at the 2007 US Open and the 2008 Sony Ericsson Open.

"She's a great player," said Azarenka of Kuznetsova. "Obviously she has been playing very good this tournament, too. She had a great win today. I just want to keep going and play the same way I played today. Hopefully maybe better if it's possible."

Stosur, who defeated No. 2 Dinara Safina in the fourth round, failed to hold serve during the 57-minute match – her only game coming with a break of Azarenka’s serve. Azarenka converted seven of nine break point opportunities and won 70 per cent of points on Stosur’s service games to improve to a 3-0 career lead over the 25-year-old Australian.

"I think was very important my return today, because Sam has a great serve and it's really tough to return," said Azarenka. "I was just returning very well and starting to put pressure on her right from the return, so I think that was the key for me today."

The 19-year-old Azarenka has made a stellar start to her 2009 campaign. She won her first WTA Tour singles title in Brisbane (d. Bartoli) before following up with her second at Memphis (d. Wozniacki). After a semifinal performance last week in Indian Wells (l. to eventual champion Zvonareva), she broke into the Top 10 at No. 10 of the Sony Ericsson WTA Tour Rankings.

Azarenka is making her fourth main draw appearance at the Sony Ericsson Open – with her best result two third-round exits in 2007 (l. to Vaidisova) and 2008 (l. to Kuznetsova).

Stosur was contesting her first quarterfinal of the season and drops to a 9-6 match record. The Brisbane native was also making her fourth main draw appearance in Miami, with her previous best result coming in 2007 – when she reached the third round (l. to Clijsters).