Kournikova poised for maiden title

Kournikova overcame the heat and her opponent

Click here for Thursday's results

Anna Kournikova brushed aside the heat to cruise into the semi-finals of the Mexican Open in Acapulco.

Kournikova, still chasing the first WTA Tour singles title of her career, overcame Slovakian opponent Janette Husarova 6-3 6-4 in just 77 minutes.

The Russian remains on course for a final showdown against compatriot Elena Dementieva, who cruised past Emilie Loit following her retirement due to injury.

A confident Kournikova said: "That was the toughest match so far... especially because of the heat, but I would have been prepared to play for three sets."

She is a real battler so to beat her is a really good feeling

Paolo Suarez on Amanda Coetzer

She must now face Slovenia's Katarina Srebotnik for a place in the final in what is their first singles encounter.

Srebotnik had a far tougher quarter-final clash, eventually triumphing 3-6 7-6 6-4 over fourth seed Cristina Torrens-Valero.

And Kournikova said of her next opponent: "She has a really good serve and hits it really hard.

"I will have to watch out for that."

Kournikova has yet to win a singles event after seven years on the tour, despite a string of doubles successes.

Coetzer out

Earlier this year she was beaten by Anna Smashnova in the semi-finals in Auckland and, at the same stage in Tokyo, by Monica Seles.

The other Mexican Open semi-final pits Dementieva against Paolo Suarez, who overcame defending champion Amanda Coetzer.

Suarez walked off court the 6-3 6-4 winner and afterwards said: "Amanda fights for every point.

"She is a real battler so to beat her is a really good feeling."

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Thursday's results:

Women's singles

(7) Paola Suarez (Arg) bt (3) Amanda Coetzer (SA) 6-3 6-4
Anna Kournikova (Rus) bt Janette Husarova (Slovakia) 6-3 6-4
Katarina Srebotnik (Slovenia) bt (4) Cristina Torrens-Valero (Spa) 3-6 7-6 6-4
(1) -Elena Dementieva (Rus) bt Emilie Loit (Fra) 6-4 retired

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