The Hindu : Sport / Tennis : Kuznetsova enters final

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Kuznetsova enters final

DUBAI: Never keen on being second best, Svetlana Kuznetsova improved her chances of reaching the pinnacle at some time later in the year by reaching her second final of 2008 on Friday.

The world No. 3 from St. Petersburg overcame Jelena Jankovic, the world No. 4 from Serbia, 5-7, 6-4, 6-3 in the semifinals of the Dubai Open.

Italy’s Francesca Schiavone ended World No. 1 Henin’s 17-match winning streak at the championship with 7-6(3), 7-6(4). The quarterfinal exit marked the first defeat at the event for the four-time champion from Belgium.

Bhupathi-Knowles enter semifinals

At Memphis, the top-seeded pair of Mahesh Bhupathi and Mark Knowles stormed into the semifinals with a 6-3, 6-2 victory over the Russian-American combination of Igor Kunitsyn and Jeff Thomas on Thursday.

The Indo-Bahamas duo served four aces and converted three of five break points to romp home in 61 minutes.

Kunitsyn and Thomas had beaten Rohan Bopanna and Dudi Sela (Israel) 7-5, 6-4 in the first round.

Important results:

At Memphis (Memphis championships): Singles: Second round: Men: Andy Roddick bt Mardy Fish 6-4, 6-2; Jonas Bjorkman bt Sam Querrey 6-4, 4-6, 7-6(4); Chris Guccione bt Thomas Johansson 6-3, 6-4.

Women: Quarterfinals: Lindsay Davenport bt Caroline Wozniacki 6-0, 6-2; Shahar Peer bt Sofia Arvidsson 3-6, 6-1, 6-3; Olga Govortsova bt Julia Goerges 7-6(5), 6-2; Marina Erakovic bt Alla Kudryavtseva 4-6, 6-3, 6-3.

Doubles: Quarterfinals: Men: Mahesh Bhupathi & Mark Knowles bt Igor Kunitsyn & Jeff Thomas 6-3, 6-2; First round: Bhupathi & Knowles bt John Isner & David Young 6-4, 6-2; Kunitsyn & Thomas bt Rohan Bopanna & Dudi Sela 7-5, 6-4.

At Acapulco (Acapulco International championships): Men: Quarterfinals: David Nalbandian bt Potito Starace 6-3, 6-3; Nicolas Almagro bt Nicolas Massu 4-6, 6-3, 6-3; Luis Horna bt Agustin Calleri 6-4, 3-6, 6-3; Jose Acasuso bt Marcel Granollers 7-6(2), 6-3.

At Zagreb (ATP Zagreb indoors): Quarterfinals: Simone Bolelli bt Olivier Rochus 7-6(5), 6-4; Mario Ancic bt Robin Haase 6-3, 3-6, 6-3; Ivan Ljubicic bt Teimuraz Gabashvili 6-2, 6-7(5), 6-3; Sergiy Stakhovsky bt Janko Tipsarevic 3-6, 6-4, 6-2.

At Dubai (WTA Dubai Open): Semifinals: Svetlana Kuznetsova bt Jelena Jankovic 5-7, 6-4, 6-4. Quarterfinals: Elena Dementieva bt Ana Ivanovic 5-7, 6-3, 6-3; Francesca Schiavone bt Justine Henin 7-6(3), 7-6(4). — Agencies

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