No problems for Hantuchova

Daniela Hantuchova advanced to the semi-finals of the Australian Open thanks to a comfortable straight sets victory over Agnieszka Radwanska.

Hantuchova made the last four of a Grand Slam for the first time in her career with a 6-2 6-2 defeat of the 29th-seeded Pole on Rod Laver Arena.

Radwanska was unable to exert any real pressure on the Slovakian despite showing glimpses of the form that had accounted for second seed Svetlana Kuznetsova and 14th seed Nadia Petrova on her way to the quarter-finals.

It was Hantuchova who struck first with a break early in the opening set before converting a sixth set point on Radwanska`s serve to take it 6-2.

The Pole managed to pressure the ninth seed`s serve at the start of the second but Hantuchova held on before breaking Radwanska once again.

Another break saw Hantuchova race into a 4-0 lead but the 18-year-old hit back with one of her own.

The Slovakian broke again immediately to move to the brink of victory but Radwanska was still fighting, breaking back once more with a forehand down the line.

But it merely delayed the inevitable as Hantuchova wrapped up the match with a forehand that her opponent was unable to return.

"I just needed to improve myself mentally, to believe it," said Hantuchova following the win. "I had people around me saying it to me. It was a matter of time before actually myself starting to believe that.

"I had to go through all those times and opportunities that I missed to be able to get here.But I'm happy for every experience I had to go through."