Russia's Svetlana Kuznetsova beat Amelie Mauresmo 7-6 6-4 in the quarter-finals of the Dubai Open yesterday, robbing the Frenchwoman of the chance to take no.1 world ranking this week.

The defeat ended a run of 16 successive victories that earned Mauresmo three titles this year, including the Australian Open.

"She played very well and I think I was running a little bit out of gas today," Mauresmo told reporters. "These two things combined made it pretty hard to come off the court as a winner.

"It was getting tougher and tougher to keep going, not only physically but in the mind with the focus you have to get almost on each point, day after day, match after match.

"It's very difficult to keep up for two months, three months.

"But that's the way it is, and I always said it's tough to keep going and I knew this kind of thing would happen some day, but I'm okay with that."

The match resumed yesterday after play had been suspended overnight with the Frenchwoman having broken to lead 3-2 in the tie-break.

But Kuznetsova settled quickly, levelled at 4-4, and held off three set points before clinching the 22-minute tie-break 13-11 on her fifth set point.

Top seeded Mauresmo made the more positive start to the second set, holding off a break point before breaking to love to lead 2-0.

She also held two break points for a 4-0 lead before Kuznetsova turned the match around, breaking in the fifth game when Mauresmo netted a weak backhand.

"Even if I was 3-0 I didn't really feel in control because I felt she was making some errors," said Mauresmo.

"To come back and break me I thought she played pretty well, very aggressive and not making as many errors as at the beginning of that set."

Kim Clijsters will retain the number one ranking next week, but an ankle injury means the Belgian will not defend her title at Indian Wells next month.

That should allow Mauresmo to regain the top spot she last held in October 2004.

Dubai Open SFs: Henin-Hardenne bt Kuznetsova 6-2 7-5; Sharapova bt Davenport 3-6 6-1 6-3.