Svetlana Kuznetsova reached the semi-finals of the Dubai Championships on Thursday after holding off a strong second set challenge to beat France's Amelie Mauresmo 6-1, 7-6.
Her next opponent will be fourth-seeded Serb Jelena Jankovic, who celebrated her 23rd birthday with the easiest of victories when sixth seed Anna Chakvetadze retired with an injury after losing the opening set 6-1.
Kuznetsova completely dominated the opening set against former champion Mauresmo, serving well and breaking to lead 2-0. Another break, when the umpire over-ruled to give Kuznetsova the point, gave the second seed a 5-1 lead, and she served out the set in just 23 minutes.
Mauresmo attacked far more in the second set, often serve and volleying, but her efforts took some time to bear fruit as Kuznetsova continued to hold the upper hand.
Mauresmo failed to convert two break points to lead 2-0, and then at 2-2 dropped her serve to love when a deep return forced an error. But, with Kuznetsova unable to maintain her level, Mauresmo broke for 3-3 and then again at love to take a 5-3 lead.
In a fiercely contested ninth game, Mauresmo held a set point which Kuznetsova saved with a backhand winner, before the Russian took the game on her third break point.
Kuznetsova then needed six game points to hold for 6-5, before edging the tiebreak 7-4.
"She changed her tactics (in the second set) and started to come in more from the first serve," Kuznetsova told reporters. "She played better, but I was not moving well in the second set. I did more than a few unforced errors, but then I was lucky that I played good in the important moments."
Mauresmo was disappointed with her defeat, and said the game at 5-3 had been crucial.
"She came up with some great shots in that game, and then I didn't play the tiebreak as I expected," Mauresmo said. "Apart from that, I thought I took my chances the way I needed to."
Jankovic dominated the first set against Russian Chakvetadze, but was surprised when her opponent retired with a left thigh injury.
"I started well today," said Jankovic, who shared a birthday cake on court after the match with her Serbian fans.
"I was playing pretty aggressive tennis and didn't really give her a chance from the beginning. I didn't realise she had something wrong until the very end when she called the trainer."
Later on Thursday in the remaining quarter-finals, Belgian top seed Justine Henin plays Francesca Schiavone of Italy, and third-seeded Serb Ana Ivanovic takes on eighth seed Elena Dementieva of Russia.
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