Since that epic match in Dubai last year, where she rallied from 4-1 down in the third set to win, Jankovic had lost six straight matches against Top 5 players. But she looked sharp as ever against Stosur this time, getting the first break of the match in the seventh game of the first set and never losing control from there, eventually closing out a one-hour, 29-minute, 64 62 victory.

"The key was my return," Jankovic said. "She has one of the best, if not the best, serves in the women's game, and it's never easy to return against her. So I was really focused on that and tried to make as many returns as possible, and then I would feel comfortable afterwards. Usually she likes to serve and then dictate the point with her forehand. I didn't really allow her to do that today - I kind of broke her rhythm and was pretty much in control the whole time.

"I'm happy with the win. It's never easy. Great to be in the semifinals again."

Stosur has been struggling with a cold the last few days, although she was still very complimentary towards Jankovic. "She served quite well. I felt like I was getting pushed back," the Australian said. "I probably didn't do enough to change things the way I needed to, to try and get through this match.

"I didn't feel as good out there, I felt a bit flat. But you can't really use it as an excuse, because you're out there to play and do your best on the day."

Next up for Jankovic will be World No.6 Agnieszka Radwanska, who won eight games in a row from 3-2 in the first set to take total command of her match against Sabine Lisicki, eventually beating the No.13-ranked German, 62 61.

"The return was key in this match. We know she's a really big server and serving very well, so I was just ready for it," Radwanska said. "I was focused from the beginning. I knew she was playing great tennis the last couple of months, and I really had to play even better than the other matches this week."

Radwanska and Jankovic are tied 1-1 in their head-to-head series.

"We played against each other a long time ago, so it will be a great challenge to play someone I haven't played in such a long time," Radwanska said. "I saw a bit of her match before me and she's playing really good tennis. It will be tough."

The night session began with a battle between former World No.1s, Caroline Wozniacki against Ana Ivanovic. Ivanovic had won their first two meetings, but those were in 2008, when Wozniacki wasn't even in the Top 30 - Wozniacki won their only meeting since then in straight sets and did it again this time, although it had a close finish - she was cruising 63 31 but eventually closed it out, 63 75.

"Ana really stepped it up in the second set, took the balls very early and just played really well, actually. She took her chances and had nothing to lose," Wozniacki said. "I'm happy to have hung in there. I think the first set wasn't the best tennis from either of us, but I came out on top, which was great. I already had that first set in my pocket, so it was easier to play afterwards.

"But she showed why she has been No.1 in the world and won a Grand Slam. It's because she can play tennis on this level. I knew it was going to come."

"I'm a bit disappointed, for sure," Ivanovic said. "I was consistent at times, but it wasn't good enough. I was lacking a bit more patience during some moments. I was going for too much too soon. And when I was going for it, I wasn't going for it at the right times. I'm disappointed at missing those opportunities.

"But it was a good week and I had some good matches. And despite the things I didn't do right I still had chances, and that's definitely a positive thing."

Wozniacki's semifinal opponent came from the last match of the night session, an all-unseeded battle between Julia Goerges and Daniela Hantuchova.