INDIAN WELLS (California), March 18: Russian third seed Maria Sharapova extended her match winning streak to 11 games, beating Mary Pierce 6-4, 6-3 on Thursday to reach the semifinals of the Indian Wells WTA/ATP Masters Series event. Sharapova produced 24 winners and 21 unforced errors to Pierce’s 18 winners and 21 unforced errors in the 87 minute match.

Her victory set up a clash with American top seed Lindsay Davenport, who continued her domination over France’s Nathalie Dechy with a 7-6 (7/2), 6-0 victory. In the men’s draw, world number one Roger Federer was relentless in beating Germany’s Nicolas Kiefer 6-4, 6-1 in the evening match to advance to the semifinals. He will face Argentina’s Guillermo Canas who outbattled Englishman Tim Henman 7-6 (7/1), 7-5.

The 17-year-old Sharapova had a breakout year in 2004 winning five titles including her first Grand Slam at Wimbledon. Sharapova compiled a superb 55-15 record last year and picked up in 2005 where she left winning titles earlier this year in Tokyo and Doha.

On Thursday, Sharapova won 77 percent (23 of 30) of the first serves she got in, while Pierce struggled with her serve at 46 percent (30 of 65). Sharapova’s win evened her career singles record against Pierce at 1-1. The only other time they met was at the 2004 US Open, where Pierce knocked Sharapova out of the final Grand Slam of the year.

A victory in Indian Wells would put Sharapova in a position to claim the No 1 ranking in the tournament that starts in Miami next week. Sharapova has beaten Davenport the last two times they have played.

Davenport and Dechy have a little more history between them. It was their seventh career meeting, with Davenport having won every one, including a straight-set victory over Dechy in the semis of the California desert hardcourt tournament last year. After committing 23 unforced errors in the first set she made just three errors in a 22-minute second set.

She said the turning point was when she held serve in the 12th game of the first set after being broken on her previous two service games. Dechy felt worn out after beating Emilie Loit, Samantha Stosur and Jessica Kirkland and spending an average of two hours, eight minutes on the court in her first three matches.

Unseeded Kim Clijsters battles fourth seeded Russian Elena Dementieva in the other semifinal on Friday. Top seed Federer moved one step closer to defending his Indian Wells title and improved to a tour best 24-1 on the season.

He needed just 67 minutes to oust Kiefer, firing four aces and winning 57 of 94 total points. Federer has beaten Kiefer the last three times they have played after losing three of their first four meetings.

Results (quarterfinals):

Women: Lindsay Davenport (USA x1) bt Nathalie Dechy (FRA x7) 7-6 (7/2), 6-0; Maria Sharapova (RUS x3) bt Mary Pierce (FRA) 6-4, 6-3

Men: Roger Federer (SUI x1) bt Nicolas Kiefer (GER) 6-4, 6-1; Guillermo Canas (ARG x14) bt Tim Henman (GBR x6) 7-6 (7/1), 7-5.—Agencies