Kuznetsova cruises into last four

By Mark Lamport-Stokes

INDIAN WELLS, California (Reuters) - Second-seeded Russian Svetlana Kuznetsova swept past Polish teenager Agnieszka Radwanska 6-2 6-4 to reach the semi-finals at the Pacific Life Open on Wednesday.

Kuznetsova, who was upset by Radwanska in the third round of the Australian Open in January, broke her 19-year-old opponent in the first and third games of the opening set on the Stadium Court.

After service breaks were traded early in the second set, the 22-year-old Russian, who lost to Slovakia's Daniela Hantuchova in last year's final at Indian Wells, broke in the seventh game before serving out to seal the win in 10th.

"That was pretty good," Kuznetsova told reporters after reaching her third WTA semi-final of the year. "I played better in the first set and missed a few (opportunities) in the second but overall it was still pretty good.

"I'm confident playing out there and it was a good win for me after losing to her in the Australian Open."

Asked if she had carried any memories of her 6-3 6-4 defeat in Melbourne into Wednesday's match, she replied: "I think some signs of the Australian Open.

"I remember that I didn't do this well or that well and I still was close in the match. When I do everything right, this is the result which comes."

The Russian world number three, who clinched her first grand slam title at the 2004 U.S. Open, will meet either fifth-seeded Hantuchova or Australian Open champion Maria Sharapova in the semi-finals.