Related story: Vaidisova stuns Williams to reach French Open semifinals
    

Svetlana Kuznetsova of Russia plays a shot to compatriot Dinara Safina during the French Open tennis tournament at Roland Garros in Paris, June 6, 2006. Kuznetsova won 7-6, 6-0. (Xinhua photo)

    PARIS, June 6 (Xinhua) -- Eighth-seeded Svetlana Kuznetsova advanced to her second career Grand Slam semifinal on Tuesday, winning the all-Russian contest against Dinara Safina 7-6 (7-5), 6-0 at the French Open.

    Kuznetsova, 20, recovered from a disastrous start when she trailed 1-5 and was forced to save two set points to take the match in one hour, 28 minutes.

    She will next face Czech teenager Nicole Vaidisova, a surprise winner over Venus Williams, in the semifinals on Thursday.

    Despite struggling with her serve in the initial stage of the match, Kuznetsova defended brilliantly in the seventh game, staving off her opponent's advances to hold serve (2-5) on her eighth game point.

    Safina committed a string of unforced errors, mostly from her backhand side, culminating in a nervous double fault that allowed Kuznetsova to take three consecutive games and level at 5-all.

    Safina broke straight back but her revival was short-lived, andshe slumped in the next game, making four unforced errors to give her compatriot the upper hand.

    In the ensuing tiebreak, Kuznetsova raced out to a 5-1 lead and never looked back, taking the set on her second opportunity when ascrambling Safina failed to retrieve a whopping forehand drive.

    After giving it her all in the 68-minute opener, Safina had nothing left in the second set, losing her next three service games and crumbling to defeat in 20 minutes. Enditem