Associated Press

Indian Wells, March 18:

Lindsay Davenport got off to a sluggish start, turned it up a notch in a tiebreaker, then went on to post 7-6, 6-0 victory over Nathlie Dechy to reach the semi-finals of the Pacific Life Open.

Wimbledon champion Maria Sharapova beat Mary Pierce 6-4, 6-3 and next faces Davenport.

Defending men’s champion Roger Federer ran his match mark for the year to 24-1 with a 6-4, 6-1 victory over Nicolas Kiefer in their quarter-final. Giullermo Canas also advanced to the semis with a 7-6, 7-5 victory over Tim Henman. The remaining men’s quarter-finals feature four former No 1 players: Andre Agassi vs Lleyton Hewitt, and Andy Roddick vs Carlos Moya.

Davenport’s victory was her third over Dechy in the past year — including the 2004 Indian Wells semi-finals — and seventh in as many career meetings.