Zvonareva downs Clijsters

Clijsters, who last year became the first unranked woman to win the US Open after taking time out to have a daughter, eased through the first set on Centre Court with a break in the eighth game.

Zvonareva, the 21st seed who will play in the semi-finals of a grand slam tournament for only the second time, broke back to hold a 5-3 lead in the second.

Clijsters responded with a break of her own with the help of two points when the ball hit the top of the net and trickled over but then double-faulted twice in the next game to let Zvonareva back into the match.

Zvonareva, hitting her backhand with ferocious intent, broke Clijsters in the fourth game of the final set and took the match on the Belgian's serve after another double fault.

"I'm so excited about the match, definitely one of my dreams to be playing here in the semi-final," an elated Zvonareva said in a courtside interview.

Zvonareva, 25, who will meet Bulgaria's Tsvetana Pironkova for a place in Saturday's final, said she had always wanted to play at Wimbledon.

"I remember as a kid watching Wimbledon on TV and I'm really looking forward to the semi-final," she said.

Clijsters, who missed the French Open this year after injuring her left foot in a Fed Cup contest, said she had given Zvonareva too many opportunities.

"I just didn't produce on the important points," she said. "A couple of times I had chances just to break back into it but she served very well on the important points.

"She hits the ball really hard, flat and deep. Her backhand is definitely her stronger shot and it's very hard to read the shot especially when she goes down the line."