Top seeded Russian Elena Dementieva had little trouble booking her place in the ASB Classic final with a 6-2 6-2 dismantling of France's Aravane Rezai.
The 2008 runner-up showed no signs that she was intimidated by the world No 4, but she made no headway with her brave play. Dementieva was a brick wall to dash her faint hopes against.
"It was not an easy match," said Dementieva, "I just played the right way against her."
Rezai's more famous compatriot Napoleon ended a far longer and more costly campaign on the Russian steppes, done in by the Russian winter. Rezai's challenge melted in the Kiwi sunshine after only 66 minutes.
The other semifinal was a far less one-sided affair, with unseeded pair Anne Keothavong of Great Britain and Russian Elena Vesnina slugging it out for almost three hours in what became, considering the oppressive heat, a minor classic.
Keothavong took the first set in a tiebreak after having to claw her way back to 6-all. The younger Vesnina looked as if she had a problem closing out a clear advantage in several situations, but Keothavong's fighting qualities also earned the crowd's appreciation.
Vesnina found a rich vein of form reminiscent of the early rounds when she ran away with the second set 6-1, but then needed all her nerve to take the decider 7-5 in an error-ridden duel, both ladies keenly aware of the high stakes.
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