Svetlana Kuznetsova eliminated top-seeded Jelena Jankovic from the Pan Pacific Open on Friday and ended the Serb's hopes of a swift return to the world's No. 1 ranking.
Kuznetsova, seeded fifth, rallied from a set down for a 2-6, 7-5, 7-5 win in a quarterfinal that lasted 2 hours, 26 minutes at Ariake Colosseum.
Kuznetsova took a 6-5 lead in the deciding set when she broke Jankovic for the fourth time.
The Russian took a 40-30 lead with a smash at the net and then won the match on a drop shot that Jankovic couldn't reach.
"I knew I had to be more aggressive in the third set," said Kuznetsova. "If you don't take a risk you don't drink champagne."
It was a disappointing loss for Jankovic, who had been hoping to reclaim the world's top ranking with a tournament victory. The Serb struggled on serve with eight double faults.
"I played well in the first set and then my percentage of serves started getting lower and lower," said Jankovic. "I made double faults at the wrong time and lost my serve many times and that was the key."
Kuznetsova will face qualifier Katarina Srebotnik of Slovenia in the semifinals on Saturday.
Srebotnik upset Olympic gold medalist and third seed Elena Dementieva 6-3, 6-4.
Jankovic lost to Serena Williams in the final of the U.S. Open and was hoping to replace Williams at the top of the rankings.
"Coming off the U.S. Open it's hard to be at the top of your game," said Jankovic. "I have five tournaments left this year and still have a chance to finish at the top of the rankings and that's the most important thing to me."
Russia's Nadia Petrova also advanced to the semis with a 6-3, 6-0 win over sixth-seeded Agnieszka Radwanska of Poland. She will face the winner of the match between fourth-seeded Dinara Safina of Russia and Kaia Kanepi of Estonia.
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