Kuznetsova and Davenport to clash in Bali semi-finals

DENPASAR, Indonesia, Sept 15 (Reuters) Russian top seed Svetlana Kuznetsova will meet American defending champion Lindsay Davenport in the semi-finals of the Bali International after both claimed straight-set victories today.

Kuznetsova, who won the title in 2002 and 2004, overcame a persistent challenge from Severine Bremond of France, winning 6-3 6-2, while Davenport, playing the 900th match of her career, overwhelmed Czech Hana Stromova 6-1 6-0.

The second semi-final will be between second seeded Patty Schnyder of Switzerland and sixth seed Marion Bartoli of France.

Kuznetsova always looked the better player against Bremond, but still struggled to gain the upper hand as a succession of break points went begging.

The Russian world number five failed to convert four break points when leading 1-0. When she did break to lead 3-1 she dropped her own serve in the next game.

Kuznetsova earned a second lead, breaking for 5-3 when her opponent netted a weak forehand, but she then had to fight off two break points as she served out the set.

The second set was equally difficult to secure, with Kuznetsova eventually breaking for 1-0 on her sixth break point, and then holding off a break point on her own serve at 1-0. An increasingly frustrated Bremond then double-faulted at 4-2, and Kuznetsova safely served out the match.

''I know why I didn't do it (win the break points),'' said Kuznetsova. ''If I had a break point I wanted to do it perfect, I wanted to do something too good and I started to do a mistake.

If I made it simple I would convert more I guess. But I was pretty calm today. Even if I wasn't doing well I was staying in focus.'' Davenport also let a succession of break points slip away against Stromova, winning only two of seven as she broke twice for a 3-0 lead. The American also held a break point for 5-0 before Stromova even earned her first game point.

The second set was also quickly under Davenport's control as she surrendered just one point in the first two games, and her only difficult moment came at 2-0 when she held off two break points. She finished by winning the final 12 points.

''It was great,'' Davenport told reporters. ''There wasn't much more I could have done. We still had long points but I thought I played well and overpowered her.'' Davenport and Kuznetsova welcome the chance to test themselves against top opposition, and both are aware that the outcome could depend on the American's serve.

''I think it's going to be a great match,'' said Davenport.

''She's very dangerous and I'm excited to play. I need to serve well to win. I served well in New York and not quite as well here, and if she see's a lot of second serves and is able to dictate play with her forehand it's going to be a tough day for me.'' Kuznetsova is also looking forward to the match.

''It's the kind of high level match I'm wanting to play,'' she said. ''I think it's going to be an interesting match. Definitely I have to move her around. The key of her game is her serve. I'm looking forward to play it.'' Schnyder ended the run of Hungary's Melinda Czink, easing her way to a 6-2 6-2 victory, and Bartoli was also an easy winner against 103rd-ranked Russian Olga Poutchkova, winning 6-2 6-4.

REUTERS DH PC1805