Kuznetsova stuns Williams to book semifinal place

PARIS: Russian seventh seed Svetlana Kuznetsova survived a fightback from American world No 2 Serena Williams to book a French Open semifinal berth with a 7-6 (7/3), 5-7, 7-5 win here yesterday.

Kuznetsova, the 2006 runner-up, will play Australian 30th seed Samantha Stosur for a place in the final, after she came past Romania's Sorana Cirstea.

World No 7 Kuznetsova broke twice to open up a 3-0 first-set lead, the double-break secured with a superb curving backhand winner down the line, before conceding a break with a double-fault in her next service game.