Defending champion Kim Clijsters beat Caroline Wozniacki at the Australian Open, ending the Dane's reign as world number one in the process.
Clijsters looked to be cruising to victory when she led by a set and 5-2 but Wozniacki did at least make the Belgian fight before she wrapped up her 6-3 7-6 (7-4) win.
Clijsters, who will now face Victoria Azarenka for a place in Saturday's final, said: "It definitely didn't feel like I was up a set and 5-2, Caroline is a very consistent player and a fighter and she became more aggressive.
"I am happy to get through and not have to go to a three-setter as it's so hot."
The 11th seed showed no sign of the ankle injury sustained in her fourth-round win over Li Na, one obtained after she saved four match points.
Battle
Clijsters broke serve in the opening game of the match to set the tone and further breaks in the third and seventh games handed her the opener on her fifth set point.
Clijsters also raced clear in the second set only for errors to creep into her previously flawless game as she served for the match.
Wozniacki dug deep but her hopes of turning the contest around were ended in the tie-break.
The Dane's search for a maiden grand slam title therefore goes on.
The 22-year-old has been ranked world number one for 67 of the past 68 weeks but Petra Kvitova, Azarenka and Maria Sharapova will now battle it out in the coming days to determine who replaces her when the new ranking list is published on Monday.
