Kuznetsova halts Mauresmo fightback to reach Dubai semis

By Barry Wood

DUBAI (Reuters) - 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."