Kuznetsova holds off Serena to reach last four

Russian seventh seed Svetlana Kuznetsova [ Images ] held off a bold challenge by Serena Willams to beat the American world number two 7-6, 5-7, 7-5 and reach the French Open [ Images ] semi-finals on Wednesday.

The 2006 Roland Garros [ Images ] runner-up will face Australian Samantha Stosur [ Images ], seeded 30th, for a place in Saturday's final.

Stosur booked her place in the semi-finals with a 6-1, 6-3 victory over Romanian high school student Sorana Cirstea [ Images ]

Kuznetsova, the only player to beat world number one Dinara Safina [ Images ] on clay this season, clinched the opening set by winning the tiebreak 7-3.

Williams, the 2002 champion, went 4-2, 40-30 down in the second before rediscovering her touch to level the contest.

Kuznetsova rallied from 3-1 down in the decider and wrapped up victory on Serena's serve on her third match point after two hours 47 minutes.