Russian Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova continued her golden run at the WTA event in Indian Wells, upsetting seventh-seeded Agnieszka Radwanska of Poland 7-6, 6-4 in the quarterfinals on Thursday. The 18-year-old sealed victory in 96 minutes and will next meet defending champion Ana Ivanovic. The Serbian advanced with a walkover against Austria's Sybille Bammer. World number four on the men's side Andy Murray also advanced to the semifinals Thursday with a 7-5, 7-6 (8-6) victory over Croatian Ivan Ljubicic. In Saturday's semifinals the 21-year-old Scot will face the winner of quarterfinal between Switzerland's Roger Federer and Spaniard Fernando Verdasco. Pavlyuchenkova, who eliminated second-seeded Serbian Jelena Jankovic in the second round, scraped through a wildly fluctuating first set featuring eight breaks of serve after taking the tiebreak 10-8. She then broke Radwanska twice in the second set to reach the semifinals for the first time at a WTA event. On Wednesday, top-ranked Rafael Nadal fended off five match points to take a 3-6, 7-6 (5), 6-0 victory over nemesis David Nalbandian. In a fourth-round match that began about 11 P.M. and lasted until around 2 A.M. Thursday, Nadal climbed back after losing the first set and falling behind 3-5 in the second. He then overcame four match points in the ninth game, and another in the 10th. The 22-year-old Spaniard broke Nalbandian's service to pull even at 5-5, then both held. Nadal shot out to a 4-0 lead on his way to winning the tiebreaker and the set. He then dominated the third set against the Argentine player. “I was lucky,” Nadal said. “I didn't go into the match with the best mentality. I didn't have a clear idea of how to play him, probably because I lost the last two matches against him. I have to play my game, and I didn't. “I had a big save today. I hope to play more aggressive now.” Earlier Wednesday, Federer ran his record against Fernando Gonzalez to 12-1 with a three-set victory to also move into the quarterfinals. Andy Roddick rallied in the third set to beat David Ferrer 7-6 (5), 3-6, 6-3. Roddick finished with 10 aces against his Spanish opponent, who served eight of his own. Roddick, ranked No. 7, had difficulty handling Ferrer's service returns in the second set, but he won 15 of 18 first serves in the third. Defending champion and No. 3 Novak Djokovic outlasted Stanislas Wawrinka 7-6 (7), 7-6 (6). Juan Martin del Potro defeated John Isner 7-6 (4), 7-6 (3), and Ivan Ljubicic downed Igor Andreev 4-6, 7-6 (5), 7-6 (4). Fernando Verdasco defeated Philipp Kohlschreiber 6-4, 3-6, 6-1. The remaining quarterfinal matchups are Nadal-del Potro, Federer-Verdasco and Roddick-Djokovic. On the women's side, No. 11 Victoria Azarenka had an upset win over top-seeded Dinara Safina 6-7 (4), 6-1, 6-3 in a quarterfinal match. A 19-year-old from Belarus, Azarenka won titles at Brisbane and Memphis earlier this year. No. 6 Vera Zvonareva also advanced, taking a 6-4, 6-2 victory over Caroline Wozniacki in their quarterfinal. Federer, ranked No. 2 after losing his four-year hold on the top spot to Nadal last year, was inconsistent against No. 17 Gonzalez, who fought his way back into the match in the second set. Gonzalez overcome earlier frustration he had vented by slamming a racket onto the court - three times - and shattering it. Federer, the tournament champion three consecutive years beginning in 2004, said he felt he finally was able to establish some rhythm. “Today was a bit more baseline, even though I couldn't find his (Gonzalez's) backhand,” Federer said. “If you don't find his backhand, the point is over quickly. He has such a massive forehand.”
