Ivanovic advances to French Open semifinals

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PARIS -- Ana Ivanovic celebrates an especially good shot with a combination leg-kick fist-pump. She's doing it a lot at the French Open.

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Julian Finney/Getty ImagesAna Ivanovic is one win away from returning to the French Open final after defeating Patty Schnyder in straight sets on Tuesday.

"I am really happy the way I'm playing," said Ivanovic, who has yet to lose a set in five matches. "I just want to keep this level."

Her opponent Thursday will be No. 3 Jelena Jankovic, who defeated unseeded Carla Suarez Navarro 6-3, 6-2.

"I started to rush," she said. "I was happy to calm down and still win the game."

Ivanovic has reached the semifinals at four of the past five Grand Slam tournaments, starting with her run at the French Open a year ago, when she lost to Justine Henin in the final.

"I am really happy the way I'm playing," said Ivanovic, who has yet to lose a set in five matches. "I just want to keep this level."

Svetlana Kuznetsova advanced to the quarterfinals for the third year in a row by completing a 6-2, 6-2 victory over Victoria Azarenka. Kuznetsova's opponent Wednesday will be Kaia Kanepi, who became the first Estonian to reach the quarterfinals at a major tournament by beating Petra Kvitova 6-3, 3-6, 6-1.

Kanepi and Kuznetsova won matches suspended Monday because of darkness.

In an all-Russian quarterfinal Wednesday, No. 7-seeded Elena Dementieva will play No. 13 Dinara Safina.

Copyright 2008 by The Associated Press

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