Svetlana Kuznetsova edges past Nicole Vaidisova

General / Editor / 16 March 2007 / Leave a Comment

Svetlana Kuznetsova survived an early scare before booking her place in the Pacific Life Open semi-finals with a 4-6 6-3 6-4 win over Nicole Vaidisova.

Russia's second seed dropped the first set before composing herself to level the match and then claim the third.

The 2004 US Open champion had never gone beyond the last eight in Indian Wells but will now face 26-year-old tournament outsider Sybille Bammer after the Austrian beat Tatiana Golovin 6-2 6-3.

"I was maybe a bit tense and I wasn't getting into the ball as I would (like) to," said 21-year-old Kuznetsova.
"She played a good match and it was very tough out there."

China's Li Na will face Daniela Hantuchova of Slovakia in the other semi-final.

Kuznetsova is the 1.19 favourite to see off Bammer (5.8) in the Match Odds market and is also trading as the 1.75 top fancy to win the tournament in California, with her opponent available at 10 to claim eventual glory.

Li Na can be backed at 6 to triumph in the final should she get past Hantuchova, who is available at 4.4.