Maria Sharapova beat Daniela Hantuchova to reach the women's semi-finals of the Pacific Life Open in Indian Wells.

The 20-year-old Australian Open champion came back from 5-2 down in the first set to record a 7-6 6-1 victory.

"In the first set, I felt like I didn't even belong on that court but I finally got my groove back," Sharapova said.

"She did everything better than I did in the first set and somehow I ended up winning it. That gave me the confidence."

Sharapova will now meet Svetlana Kuznetsova in the semi-finals after the fellow Russian notched up a 6-2 6-4 win over Agnieszka Radwanska.

The second seed broke the teenager in the first and third games of the first set to take control and broke in the seventh game of the second to seal it.

"I'm confident playing out there and it was a good win for me after losing to her in the Australian Open," said Kuznetsova.

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