Melbourne, jan. 28: Serena Williams came back from the brink to defeat Russia''s Svetlana Kuznetsova 7-5, 5-7, 6-1 in the Australian Open quarter-finals, ensuring the women''s semis would not be an all-Russian affair.

The eighth-seeded Kuznetsova served for the match in the 10th game of the second set but was broken by Williams, who is chasing a fourth title at Melbourne Park.

According to The Age, the American No. 2 seed duly broke again in the 12th game to push the match into a decider, demoralising the Russian who had looked so impressive in the first set which was played under a blazing sun.

But with the tournament''s Extreme Heat Policy being invoked during the match, the final two sets were played with the roof closed on Rod Laver Arena.

Williams said the conditions were so extreme during the first set, it felt like "an out of body experience".

"I was in a lot of trouble today, but I I really wanted to relax and just go three sets ... that''s when I play my best," she said.

The match lasted for two hours and three minutes, with Williams winning 10 of the last 11 games.

Williams'' semi-final opponent will be another Russian, No. 4 seed Elena Dementieva, who outclassed unseeded Spaniard Carla Suarez Navarro 6-2 6-2 earlier on Wednesday.

The other semi will be an all-Russian clash between third seed Dinara Safina and No. 7 Vera Zvonareva. (ANI)