Williams Stunned By Vaidisova

Venus Williams' run at a first ever French Open title came to a halt. The lone American left in either field was dismissed by 17-year-old Czech Nicole Vaidisova in the quarters 6-7 (5), 6-2, 6-3 at Roland Garros Wednesday.

"She just played really good tennis," a disappointed Williams told reporters. "Seems to be on a roll. She was making some great shots. She just was the better player today."

Vaidisova continued her impressive run to make a Grand Slam semifinal for the first time by coming back from a set down against the five-time slam champion.

"I'm so happy and excited and happy I could scream," said a pleased Vaidisova.

"After I lost the first set I didn't think I could pull it off. I'm trying to get wiser and more mature and get my game face on. I kept fighting hard and it worked."

Vaidisova got off to a quick start, jumping out to a 4-1 double break lead. But she couldn't hold it together against the battle tested Williams, who fought back to take the next four games. Ultimately, the seesaw first set would wind up in a tiebreak where once again, Vaidisova was in good position to put the set away. But after grabbing a 5-2 lead to pull within two points of the set, she lost the last five points, dropping the set to Williams.

Much like how she bounced back in a three set triumph over top seed Amelie Mauresmo in the Round of 16, a resilient Vaidisova stuck to her plan by continuing to go for lines. Using a lethal forehand, she pounded out 30 winners to Williams' 25 which helped turn the tide.

"I just kept fighting, you know, getting as many balls back as I could, try to move her around," Vaidisova said. "I kept hanging in there even though I lost the first set."

With both players going for a lot, Vaidisova was a little more consistent to gain an edge in the second set. In the third game, she broke Williams to go ahead 2-1. Much like the opening set, she took control by breaking once again for 4-1. However, unlike that set where she let a big lead slip away, Vaidisova served out the set to level the match.

In the final set, she broke Williams thanks to a double fault. Continuing to play aggressively from the baseline, she outslugged Williams and forced her into many errors. Williams finished with 70 unforced errors while Vaidisova had 57.

Vaidisova built a 5-1 lead before Williams cut it to 5-3 with a hold and break of serve. But before Williams could put the pressure squarely on Vaidisova's shoulders, the 17-year-old 16th seed dug in and broke back to claim the biggest victory of her career.

After Williams valiantly saved one match point with a backhand winner, she couldn't fight off the second; instead floating a forehand long to give Vaidisova the win, sending her into delirium.

"I'm still in my little La-La Land," she said.

Vaidisova will play eighth seeded Russian Svetlana Kuznetsova next. Kuznetsova rallied from 1-5 down in the first set to post a 7-6 (5), 6-0 victory over countrywoman Dinara Safina (14).

"I'll have to more concentrate on my game and fight. I think at this point there's not about one tactical thing that's going to get you further. It's who wants to win more and who's going to grind longer for it," added Vaidisova.

"I just couldn't move. I was not like it maybe looked like I was not awake. But, you know, when you play quarterfinals, you always awake," Kuznetsova said of her shaky start.

"I just felt I wanted it badly, and I just had to breathe between the point and just to let it go somehow and just start play again. It was very tough."

Also moving into a semifinal match-up were Kim Clijsters and rating champ Justine Henin-Hardenne. The second seeded Clijsters was too much for Martina Hingis (12), posting a 7-6 (5), 6-1 victory.

Hingis was eliminated by Clijsters in the quarterfinals for the second consecutive slam since her return back in January.

"I think I was very focused out there today," Clijsters told reporters. "I did what I had to do."

"I was a little flat. I was a little tired. I was just a little late," Hingis pointed out after taking the court for the fourth consecutive day. "I didn't have the energy going I had in the first three matches.

"She's not an opponent you can just walk on court and think she's going to give it to you. You just have to be full on. If you're not, you're going to lose. That's what happened today."

Meanwhile, Henin-Hardenne (5) was a 7-5, 6-2 winner over Anna-Lena Groenefeld to setup an all Belgian semifinal.

"It's going to be special. The one who deals with all the outside factors will pull through. It's 50-50. At least there will be a Belgian in the final," the two-time French Open winner said.

"I think it's great. This is where it all started for both of us in a way," Clijsters pointed out. She lost to Henin-Hardenne for the title three years ago.

"I think now for us to be in a similar situation…has just shown, I think, what a great career we both have had."

Federer And Nalbandian Setup Semifinal: The first men's semifinal is set. Both Roger Federer and David Nalbandian advanced in the quarterfinals to setup an intriguing 1 vs 3 match-up.

The top seeded Federer ousted 12th seeded Croat Mario Ancic in straight sets 6-4, 6-3, 6-4 to post his 26th straight Grand Slam victory. His last loss came to defending champion Rafael Nadal in the semis a year ago at Paris.

Meanwhile, the third seeded Nalbandian eliminated sixth seeded Nikolay Davydenko in four sets 6-3, 6-3, 2-6, 6-4.

"Each time, we play it's long, tough and tight. It won't be easier for any of us," Nalbandian told reporters of facing Federer.

"In Rome, the conditions were different. It was warmer. The court was faster," he added.

Nalbandian will hope for a better result than the close three set loss he suffered against Federer a month ago.

"I won and lost against him on all surfaces," Nalbandian pointed out. "The surface is not what I'm worried about. It's more on what the conditions will be, how fit we are."

The final two quarterfinals will take place later today. Defending champ Nadal (2) will take on first-time quarterfinalist Novak Djokovic while fourth seeded Croatian Ivan Ljubicic faces the lone Frenchman left in the tournament, Julien Benneteau.

If Nadal and Ljubicic advance, it would be the first time since 1985 that all four men's top seeds made it to the Final Four. That year, John McEnroe, Ivan Lendl, Jimmy Connors and Mats Wilander made it through with Wilander taking the title.