BALI, Sept 17: US Open champion Svetlana Kuznetsova overcame a tough first-set challenge from wild card Angelique Widjaja to reach the semifinals of the Wismilak International with a 7-5 6-1 victory on Friday.

The Russian was in real difficulty in the first set against a fearless Indonesian opponent who returned with pace and accuracy during rallies. Widjaja, ranked 144 in the world, would not allow her opponent to settle and twice recovered breaks of serve before holding two points to lead the opening set at 5-3.

But Kuznetsova broke back to lead 6-5 by enticing the former Wimbledon and French Open junior champion into a backhand error then closed out the set on her fourth set point. The second seed played more composed tennis in the second set, breaking serve in a long first game and all but assuring herself of victory with a further break for 4-1.

But the plucky Widjaja continued to challenge, holding a break point in the fifth game before dropping her serve a final time. Kuznetsova will face fourth seed Nadia Petrova in the semifinals after her fellow Russian beat Italy's Tathiana Garbin 6-1 7-5.

QUARTERFINALS RESULTS (SINGLES): Maria Elena Camerin bt Gisela Dulko 3-6, 6-3, 6-2; Marlene Weingartner bt Yoon Jeong Choo 6-4, 5-7, 6-2; Nadia Petrova bt Tathiana Garbin 6-1, 7-5; Svetlana Kutnetsova bt Angelique Widjaja) 7-5, 6-1.