Kuznetsova books Indian Wells semi-final spot

　　INDIAN WELLS, California, March 19, 2008 - Second-seeded Russian Svetlana Kuznetsova beat Poland's Agnieszka Radwanska Wednesday to avenge an Australian Open defeat and reach the semi-finals of the ATP and WTA Pacific Life Open.

　　Kuznetsova, ranked number three in the world, defeated the 19th-ranked Radwanska 6-2, 6-4.

　　Radwanska had shocked then-second ranked Kuznetsova in the third round of the Australian Open in January.

　　The match was the curtain-raiser to another Australian Open re-match, with defending Indian Wells champion and second seed Rafael Nadal taking on France's Jo-Wilfried Tsonga in the fourth round of the ATP Masters Series section of the tournament.

　　Tsonga, 22, fired 18 aces and defeated the Spaniard in straight sets in the Aussie Open semi-finals to reach his first Grand Slam final.

　　World number one and top seed Roger Federer, winner of three straight titles here from 2004-2006, was slated for fourth-round action Wednesday, along with third-seeded Serbian Novak Djokovic, who defeated Tsonga in the Australian Open final.

　　Eighth-seeded Frenchman Richard Gasquet was to take on American James Blake in a preview of the upcoming Davis Cup quarter-final tie between the two countries.

　　Women's Australian Open champion Maria Sharapova, the fourth seed, put her unbeaten 17-0 2008 record on the line against defending champion Daniela Hantuchova for a place in the semi-finals.