Russia's Anna Chakvetadze reacts during the Paris Open semi-finals on Friday after scoring against local favourite Amelie Mauresmo. -- PHOTO: AFP

Former world number one Mauresmo, who was chasing a third title in the indoor event, made a promising start but then struggled against the world number seven.

The decisive set was tight until Chakvetadze managed the telling break in the eighth game and served for the match, winning it after a backhand error by her opponent.

Chakvetadze, who burst into the limelight last year by winning four titles and reaching the US Open semi-finals, will meet another Frenchwoman, Marion Bartoli, for a place in Sunday's final.

Bartoli, last year's Wimbledon runner-up and the third seed here, advanced to the last four by beating compatriot Virginie Razzano 6-1, 7-6.

Hungarian teenager Agnes Szavay will also feature in Saturday's semi-finals after beating injured Daniela Hantuchova 7-6, 6-1 in the day's first match.

The Slovak, seeded second, opened up a 4-1 lead in the first set but the 18-year-old Szavay fought back and eventually took the tiebreak 7-4.

At 1-1 in the second set Hantuchova received treatment on her right hand and had it bandaged. She then lost the next five games, bowing out after hitting a backhand wide on match point.

'My hand was hurting, it's true, but that's not an excuse,' said Hantuchova. 'My opponent played really well.'

Seventh seed Szavay next plays Russian Elena Dementieva, seeded fourth, who took control after a tight first set to knock out Ukraine's Kateryna Bondarenko 7-5, 6-2. -- REUTERS