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Serena Williams to play Dementieva in semis
(Agencies)
Updated: 2009-01-28 14:21

MELBOURNE, Australia – After struggling under a searing sun, Serena Williams found her rhythm when the Rod Laver Arena roof was closed Wednesday and advanced to the Australian Open semifinals.


Serena Williams of the United States celebrates as she beats Russia's Svetlana Kuznetsova during their Women's singles quarterfinal match at the Australian Open tennis tournament in Melbourne, Australia, January 28, 2009. [Agencies] 

Williams, a three-time Australian champion, was only one game away from a quarterfinal exit before recovering to beat Russia's Svetlana Kuznetsova 5-7, 7-5, 6-1.

Williams, who has nine Grand Slam singles titles, was thankful that the roof was closed over the court when the tournament's Extreme Heat policy came into effect after she'd dropped the first set.


Russia's Svetlana Kuznetsova returns to Serena Williams of the US during their women's singles quarter-final match at the Australian Open tennis tournament in Melbourne January 28, 2009. [Agencies]

The temperature had risen to 107 degrees by then. When the air conditioning finally kicked in, so did Williams' performance.

Until then, she said, "I was in like an out-of-body experience."

Down a set and a break and with Kuznetsova serving for the match, Williams broke back to get even at 5-5 when Kuznetsova missed an open-court volley that turned the match.

Williams held and then broke Kuznetsova's serve again, pulling to a set apiece with a forehand winner down the line.

The American broke to lead 3-1 in the third and then, after saving two breakpoints with a pair of forehand winners, the result was never in doubt.

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