The winning streak would not go away easily, lingering in the desert through one blowout and three other matches and then hanging around for nearly two and a half hours.
It was a credit to Maria Sharapova's survival skills and ability to run on fumes that her unbeaten streak lasted four more matches after she arrived in Indian Wells, reaching 18-0. But No. 19 was not to be, not with her super-fit Russian countrywoman, Svetlana Kuznetsova, seeded second, standing in the way.
Kuznetsova became the first player in 2008 to beat Sharapova, winning their semifinal, 6-3, 5-7, 6-2, Friday at the Pacific Life Open. She was asked about ending Sharapova's streak.
"It feels great," Kuznetsova said. "I don't think Maria plays like always she can play. Neither did I. But I think it was very good, interesting third set."
An exhausted Sharapova raised the possibility that she might have to skip Miami, which starts next week.
"I'm human. You know, I'm allowed to make a few mistakes in my life and in my career," she said. "That kind of was the story today. . . . I'm going to play it by ear. My body is kind of hurting a little bit. I just want to be smart about the decisions I make."
Sharapova may have lacked her usual sharpness, but Kuznetsova has often played her tough. They are 4-4, and the courts at Indian Wells especially suit Kuznetsova's game.
In Sunday's final, she will play No. 1 Ana Ivanovic, who beat No. 3 Jelena Jankovic, 7-6 (3), 6-3. The all-Serbian semifinal was about the only thing that seemed to go to form on a day of surprises.
Who would have projected No. 98-ranked Mardy Fish's place in the semifinals with the likes of No. 1 Roger Federer, No. 2 Rafael Nadal and No. 3 Novak Djokovic? Or that Federer would reach the semifinals without having to hit a ball Friday?
Indeed, all happened on a frantic Friday.
Oddly, it was not a creaky right shoulder but a sinus infection that forced Tommy Haas of Germany to withdraw from his scheduled quarterfinal against Federer. Haas, who had his third shoulder surgery in November, had been on his best run in months -- defeating No. 6 Andy Roddick in the second round and No. 11 Andy Murray in the fourth. This is the second time Haas had to withdraw in the midst of the Indian Wells event. In 2006, he beat Andre Agassi in the third round and pulled out before his next match because of a stomach virus.
