INDIAN WELLS, California, 16 March 2007 — Daniela Hantuchova maintained her good form at Pacific Life Open with a gritty 6-2, 5-7, 7-6 victory over Israeli 11th seed Shahar Peer in the quarterfinals on Wednesday.

The 14th seeded Slovakian advances to a semifinal showdown against China’s Li Na, who edged Russia’s Vera Zvonareva 6-4, 7-5.

A day after upending third seed Martina Hingis in straight sets, the 2002 champion needed almost three hours to overcome some stubborn resistance from Peer, who consistently engaged Hantuchova in punishing rallies from the baseline.

The 23-year-old did well to overcome the disappointment of failing to serve out the match at 5-4 in the third set and rallied from a 5-3 deficit in the deciding tiebreaker.

Hantuchova drew level after Peer had committed two unforced errors, and a service winner gave her match point, which she took at the first attempt when her teenage opponent erred with a forehand.

“I think we both started to feel it in the middle of the third set because we had long rallies, and also the match yesterday with Martina was not easy,” Hantuchova told reporters.

Even though she has ended the year ranked in the top 20 on four separate occasions, Hantuchova’s only career title came here five years ago, but the player believes she has matured to the point where she is ready to challenge the top players.

“I’m understanding much better, if something goes wrong, it’s part of the game, and it’s okay, not to be perfect all the time,” she said. “And just to try to figure out how to turn things around in my way and always try to stay positive.” Li was impressive from inside the baseline against the quick Zvonareva, finding the lines on the big points and tiring out her Russian opponent, who had upset world No. 1 Maria Sharapova in the previous round.

Trailing 5-1 in the second set, the 25-year-old Li reeled off six straight games as Zvonareva lost depth on her shots and was pushed toward the back wall.

“After winning the first set, I was a little bit loose,” the 12th seeded Li said.

Murray Beats Davydenko

to Reach Quarters

Briton Andy Murray upended fourth seed Nicolay Davydenko 7-6, 6-4 in the fourth round of the Pacific Life Open on Wednesday. The 13th-seeded Murray never allowed the Russian to establish a comfortable rhythm and served and returned efficiently. Murray won the contest with a 136-mph ace.

The 19-year-old Scot will meet ninth seeded Tommy Haas after the German beat fifth seed Fernando Gonzalez of Chile 6-3, 6-2.

Haas avenged a straight sets defeat at the hands of Gonzalez in the semi-finals of the Australian Open by blasting 22 winners and committing only eight unforced errors.

No. 12 Novak Djokovic of Serbia also reached the quarterfinals, beating Julien Benneteau of France 6-3, 6-1.

The Serbian will play No. 14 David Ferrer of Spain, who overcame countryman Carlos Moya 1-6, 6-2, 6-3.