ZURICH, Switzerland -- Third-seeded Svetlana Kuznetsova defeated Martina Hingis 6-1, 1-6, 6-3 on Friday to reach the Zurich Open semifinals, rebounding from a poor performance at home last week.
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"I'm not really happy with the second set, but I'm happy with the rest," said Kuznetsova, who lost her opening match in Moscow last week. "She played more aggressively and I started to play worse in the second set but I knew the match was still in my hands if I played the last set like I did the first."
Earlier, U.S. Open champion Maria Sharapova beat Timea Bacsinszky 6-4, 6-3, boosting her chances of finishing the year atop the WTA Tour rankings.
In the semifinals, Kuznetsova will face Daniela Hantuchova, who received a walkover when Amelie Mauresmo withdrew with a shoulder injury on Thursday. Sharapova will play Slovenia's Katarina Srebotnik, who advanced by defeating Russian Maria Kirilenko 6-3, 6-2.
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Hingis won their last meeting in Montreal in August and their first in Doha in March.
After being dominated by Kuznetsova in the opening set, Hingis sought court-side help from hitting partner Radim Valigura -- currently acting as her coach. Zurich is one of five tournaments this season where the WTA Tour is testing the concept. After a surprisingly effective pep talk, Hingis rallied to easily win the second set.
The final set was more balanced, though Kuznetsova broke Hingis to lead 3-0.
Hingis rallied to lead 30-0 on Kuznetsova's serve at 5-3, but the Russian pulled even, then reached match point with a forehand that Hingis sent into the net. Kuznetsova sealed the win with a massive, unattainable cross court shot.
"As a competitor you want to win, especially when you're playing at home," said Hingis, who was making her first appearance at the tournament in six years. "On the other hand, she played a great first set and I was happy to get going in the second set. That gave me belief I could give her a fight."
The semifinal appearance comes after Kuznetsova was beaten in her first match by Nathalie Dechy last year and failed to qualify for the main draw in 2003.
"I think I'm a higher-level player now - more consistent and mature," the Russian said. "Last year maybe I might have had the level, but I couldn't keep it every tournament."
Hingis was hoping to ensure herself a berth for the season-ending WTA Championship in Madrid by reaching the semifinals.
