Kanepi's dream run continues

Dubai: Estonia's Kaia Kanepi will make a dream semifinal appearance against France's Virginie Razzano at the Barclays Dubai Tennis Championships today.

Kanepi appeared to have a tough time in her debut appearance at this tournament, as she had to dig in deep before quelling a late charge from Russian qualifier Elena Vesnina 6-3, 7-5 in one hour and 50 minutes.

Meanwhile, Razzano took a marathon two hours and 23 minutes before ending the challenge from fifth-ranked Russian Vera Zvonareva 7-6 (7), 7-5.

Barely able to walk off the court, Razzano thanked her fans for taking her through the match.

"Tennis is tough," she said as she cried on court.

Razzano broke in the very first game and then held for an early 2-0 cushion. But the Russian held and then broke back for 2-2. Both broke each other one more time till Razzano held her nerve to win a tight tie-breaker 9-7.

Zvonareva, winner last week at the Pattaya Open, blamed her lack of preparation for losing to her French opponent.

"There were too many concentration lapses and I did not prepare too well before the match. One can't afford this against a player who is in form," rued the 24-year-old Russian.

The second set too moved pretty much the same way as Razzano moved to an early 2-0 lead, only to be broken back twice for Zvonareva to move clear 4-2. But Razzano broke two more times to go 5-3 and served for the match.

She failed once again hitting a double backhand wide on her serve to allow Zvonareva right back into the match at 5-5. But she did enough for one last break to win set and match 7-5.

Celebrating her win against Vesnina, Kanepi said: "She is one of the most difficult players to play against."

Kanepi broke her Russian opponent in the sixth for a 4-2 lead to take the set 6-3 in 47 minutes. She got an early break in the second to go 2-0 clear, but faltered as Vesnina broke back and held for 2-2.

Both players went on serve till Kanepi broke a second time for a 5-4 lead.

But she caved in to the pressure a second time and failed to serve out the set and match as Vesnina drew level once again at 5-5.

The Estonian was not finished as she broke one last time and then held her nerve and serve to win set and match 7-5. Yeah, I did have to work hard.

"I think I rushed it a bit towards the end and that is what normally happens when one is in a hurry to finish it off," Kanepi said.