AUCKLAND- Former world number two Svetlana Kuznetsova cemented her Auckland Classic title credentials with an effortless 6-4, 6-3 victory over Italy's Sara Errani in the quarter-finals Thursday.
The 26-year-old Russian, who looked out of touch 12 months ago when her second round loss extended a year-long dip in form, has returned to Auckland in fine shape and appears intent on exorcising those demons.  The world number 19 dispatched Alison Riske in 75 minutes then destroyed American teen-ager Christina McHale, who is tipped as a potential top-10 player and had beaten her twice last year, to make the last eight without being stretched.