Kirilenko, Sharapova Set Up All-Russian Semi at Indian Wells

Maria Sharapova made a midnight trip to the BNP Paribas Open semis. But for Maria Kirilenko, another three-set win propelled her into the biggest semi of her career.

By Erik Gudris

(March 13th, 2013) -- Maria Sharapova appears once again headed for a return trip to the finals of the BNP Paribas Open. She made another step in the right direction with a straight sets win in her late night quarterfinal.

Facing Italy's Sara Errani, both women took the court late Wednesday evening after a marathon day session pushed their match that was scheduled at 7:00 p.m. closer to a 10:00 p.m. start.

As has been the case for many of her matches so far in the event, Sharapova struggled in the first set. Errani held a set point when up 5-3 but Sharapova fought that off and yet another one when down 5-6 in the tiebreak. But Sharapova surged ahead to take the set 7-6.

Backed up by 45 winners compared to only nine for the Italian, Sharapova rolled through the second set and wrapped up a 7-6(6), 6-2 win just after midnight.

"This definitely wasn't my best match of the tournament," Sharapova said afterwards. "I started quite slowly today. But I'm happy I've given myself another opportunity to be in the semifinals here, one of the toughest stages of one of the toughest tournaments for us. I hope to go further again this year."

Kirilenko Knocks Out Kvitova in Three

Maria Kirilenko has had to work hard for her money all week at the BNP Paribas Open. She's been forced to battle in four straight three-set matches, including yesterday's upset over Agnieszka Radwanksa, but her reward is a first-ever trip to the semis of a WTA Premier Mandatory event.

For a while it looked like her opponent Petra Kvitova would be strolling into the semis after she fought back from a 2-4 deficit early in the first set to take a 5-4 lead. Kirilenko responded by calling for the trainer to deal with a sore left knee, but her time out didn't stop Kvitova from eventually closing out the set 6-4.

The Russian's woes continued as Kvitova's trademark power overwhelmed Kirilenko at times. Up 4-2 in the second, Kvitova looked ready to close out the match that was played under near 100 degree conditions.

But Kvitova lost the plot as she began hitting unnecessary errors that allowed Kirilenko back in the set at 4-4. Kvitova, down 4-5, then couldn't find her serve and tossed in three double faults to hand Kirilenko the set and push it into a decider.

Kvitova's struggles mounted in the final set as she fell behind 0-40 serving at 2-3. She fought off those break points with several winners but soon dropped serve. Kvitova broke serve again, but then later tossed in her 12th double fault in her next service game to give Kirilenko a 5-3 lead.

Kirilenko faced 0-30 on her serve while serving for the match but then, once again helped, by Kvitova errors, managed to finally win 4-6, 6-4, 6-3.

Kvitova hit a whopping 48 unforced errors in her losing effort. For her part, Kirilenko said afterwards she decided to go for her serve when down 0-30 in the last game.

"I just said to myself, 'Serve as hard as you can because she's hitting the ball so hard,'" Kirilenko said. "I said to myself I have to win this game, and I'm very happy I finished the match when I did."

This will be the best semifinal showing for Kirilenko in her career as she is expected to rise to No. 13 in the world on Monday.

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(Photo Credit: Corleve)