Kournikova sets up Tauziat clash

Kournikova easily defeated a tired Panova

Home favourite Anna Kournikova reached the semi-finals of the Kremlin Cup in Moscow with a 4-6, 7-6, 6-3 victory over compatriot Tatiana Panova

The fourth seed will play Nathalie Tauziat of France in the semi-finals.

Panova, playing her fifth consecutive tournament, could challenge Kournikova only in the first set and was somewhat less than gracious in defeat.

"There was nothing special in her game today, but I coudn't play better," said Panova.

Both players traded breaks throughout the first set, but Kournikova managed to win it in 38 minutes, making less unforced errors.

In the second Kournikova moved up a gear, breaking her rival's serve early to earn a comfortable 4-1 lead, before she increased her advantage to win the set and match in 67 minutes.

Tauziat through

Defending champion Natalie Tauziat of France fought through a highly combative 49-minute first set with eighth seed Austria's Barbara Schett, which she edged on the tie-break.

In the second Tauziat, seeded second here, motored ahead, winning the set 6-2 in 37 minutes and setting up a meeting with Kournikova.

Fifth-seeded Amelie Mauresmo of France advanced to her fourth semi-final this year by eliminating unseeded Magdalena Maleeva of Bulgaria 4-6, 7-6 (3), 6-3, the first time they have played each other.

Mauresmo was within two points of defeat

Maleeva, who won the tournament in 1995, won the first set and was just two points away from her second semi-final this year and second consecutive upset in the tournament.

She was was up 6-5 in the second set and ahead 40-30 in the game, but then made a double-fault to lose the set on a tiebreaker.

"This was probably the only bad game I've played in the whole match," said Maleeva, who upset third-seeded Arantxa Sanchez-Vicario of Spain on Thursday.

"The lesson for me today - I should keep the basis of my game serene and stay cool," said Mauresmo, who will play world number one Martina Hingis in the semi-finals.

The winner of the women's event will get US$166,000 prize money while the men's champion will receive $137,000.