Maria Sharapova's perfect start to the year came to a shuddering halt when she lost 6-3, 5-7, 6-2 to fellow Russian Svetlana Kuznetsova in the Pacific Life Open semifinals on Friday.

Australian Open champion Sharapova, who had won her first 18 matches of the season, was outplayed by the second seed in a fluctuating match lasting two hours, 19 minutes.

Kuznetsova will face top-seeded Ana Ivanovic in Sunday's final, the Serb having beaten compatriot Jelena Jankovic 7-6, 6-3 later on Friday.

World number three Kuznetsova, who lost to Slovakia's Daniela Hantuchova in last year's final at Indian Wells Tennis Garden, was delighted to beat Sharapova for the first time since Miami in 2006.

"It feels great," the 22-year-old said. "I don't think Maria played like always she can play. Neither did I. But I think it was a very good, interesting third set. The first set was so-so; the second better and in the third we both got our game. It was a good match."

Federer through

World number one Roger Federer reached the last four of the men’s event without hitting a shot when his quarterfinal opponent Tommy Haas pulled out with a sinus infection.

Swiss Federer, three times champion at Indian Wells and seeking his first ATP title of the year, will next meet unseeded American Mardy Fish, who scraped past seventh-seeded David Nalbandian of Argentina 6-3, 6-7, 7-6.
Sania-Mattek lose

The Indo-American pair of Sania Mirza and Bethanie Mattek could not capitalise on a good start and went down 7-6 (4), 5-7, 4-10  to third seeded Chinese duo of Yan Zi and Zheng Jie in a three-set thriller in the women’s doubles semifinal, adds PTI.

In the final, the Chinese pair will meet Daniela Hantuchova of Slovakia and Ai Sugiyama of Japan who beat Russian duo of Dinara Safina and Elena Vesnina 6-3, 6-4 in the other semifinal.