Russia's Svetlana Kuznetsova dumped reigning champion Jelena Jankovic out of the WTA Rome claycourt tournament 6-1, 7-6 (7/3) yesterday and then shrugged off comparisons with men's claycourt king Rafael Nadal.

World No 1 Dinara Safina is also through to the last four after winning the last 11 games to dig herself out of a hole against unseeded Maria Jose Martinez Sanchez to secure a 4-6, 6-3, 6-0 success.