Q. At the start you made a lot of unforced errors. What was the problem?

SVETLANA KUZNETSOVA: I guess the nerves. I just couldn't move. I was not like ‑‑ it maybe looked like I was not awake. But, you know, when you play quarterfinals, you always awake.

I just felt I wanted it badly, and I just had to breathe between the point and just to let it go somehow and just start play again. It was very tough.

But I already knew in the match against Francesca that I played before, I think it helped me out. And suddenly I just start to play back. Once I notice she does also some easy mistakes, so she also was nervous. I start to play a little bit against Dinara. I started to put the ball back, and suddenly I realize I'm doing all right. I was not that bad. I was 5‑2, 5‑3, 5‑4. Then I was like, oh, I could be still in this set because I was just trying to play ball by ball.

Finally I get 5‑All and I say, Okay, here we start the match. There where I really started to feel myself a little bit in the game.

Q. You're in the semifinal now. Did you expect that when you started this tournament?

SVETLANA KUZNETSOVA: I never thought about my result in this tournament. I just wanted to go match by match because I was not doing as good tournaments before as I would love to do. But I was doing all right. I knew I have game to make it and to be here. I had close last two years.

I just wanted to play badly here. I still in the tournament and I want to enjoy match by match. Now I have no pressure. I just play as I can, and hopefully I'll do well.

Q. You will have pressure. You will play Vaidisova.

SVETLANA KUZNETSOVA: Why should I have pressure? I'm in semifinals. I have done very well during this tournament. Yes, she's doing also great. But I think there is even chances. I just want to play. I think I'm more clay court player. I'm just going to do my best. If she can beat me, she should play well.

I just going to give me best. There is no pressure out there. I have my pressure all behind already.

Q. Definitely you like clay?

SVETLANA KUZNETSOVA: Yeah, I do like clay. But sometimes I need just a little bit more patience.

Q. I suppose you've been asked when you were down 5‑1 what your state of mind was.

SVETLANA KUZNETSOVA: My state? You know what helped me? I said, Okay, I've been there. It's like the same movie. I had the same movie two years ago, two past years I had the same movie. I was losing from match point. I could make it through this year. Today was the same movie as Francesca's match. I was 5‑1 down and I started to play. Today I could make it back to 5‑5. When I was playing 5‑6, 6‑All, I was like, I couldn't believe I still in this set because I was just played disgusting points. Any ball she put me, I just couldn't put it in the court. I looked like junior out there. I mean, I felt ridiculous.

But I stayed in the game. I wanted it badly. And I just kept fighting. I kept doing something with my mind. I didn't want any negative reaction. I just wanted to be there.

Q. What is it for you to be in the semifinals in a Grand Slam after your victory at the US Open?

SVETLANA KUZNETSOVA: There is lots of points for me. First of all, I never been to semifinal in tournament as Roland Garros. I've done quarters in Wimbledon, everywhere, but not Roland Garros, you know.

Then I thought I can play very well on clay, but I never done very well on clay. So it was like surprising me little bit. So now I know I can make it and I'm playing pretty well.

In semis, all chances, everybody's even, because it's already semis. Everybody playing good if they made it to the semifinal. Especially I had a lull last year. I played very well in Miami. I made it a little bit through, but not in Grand Slam yet. So I'm second time in the semifinals, so I'll just do my best out there.

Q. Your game has ups and downs. We saw that with Francesca and today. Is it the way you play or the way you are in life? Is it a more general attitude you have?

SVETLANA KUZNETSOVA: No, no, not at all. I guess it's just this week because it's very important for me because I just want it so much. Sometimes I cannot control my emotions on the court because I just want it really badly. I just want to be there and enjoy. I'm not thinking about winning or something. I just very disappointed when I lose or I don't like something. Sometimes it's very tough to go through it, you know.

So today I think I was in control of my emotions in the match. I was not so much in Francesca match. But I just made it through, so I'm very happy with it.

Q. Why didn't you play doubles with Amélie at the French this year?

SVETLANA KUZNETSOVA: I'll let you know after the tournament. I just don't want to say nothing before my singles match. But this has nothing to do with Amélie. We're going to play Eastbourne and Wimbledon, so...