Wimbledon champion Maria Sharapova fought back from a sloppy start to wear down fellow Russian Svetlana Kuznetsova 4-6, 6-2, 6-2 Tuesday to reach the Australian Open semi-finals for the first time.

US Open champion Kuznetsova, 19, outhit a tentative and error-prone fourth seed from the back of the court in the first set. But Sharapova rallied as her opponent's game wilted in scorching hot conditions on Rod Laver Arena.

Fifth seed Kuznetsova lost confidence in the face of Sharapova's fightback, her ground strokes and serve disintegrating. She failed to hold serve in the last two sets, surrendering eight straight service games to slip to defeat in 137 minutes.

Seventeen-year-old Sharapova will play seventh seed and 2003 champion Serena Williams or second seed and 1999 runner-up Amelie Mauresmo in the semi-finals.

(Agencies)