Vaidisova eases out Czech rival Safarova

MELBOURNE, Jan 23 (Reuters) Nicole Vaidisova won the battle of the Czech teenagers with a comfortable 6-1 6-4 victory over unseeded Lucie Safarova to reach the semi-finals of the Australian Open today.

The 10th seed, 17, produced an elegant display of power-hitting against her 19-year-old rival in a one-sided quarter-final on Rod Laver Arena.

Safarova, who dispatched reigning champion Amelia Mauresmo in the fourth round, struggled to match Vaidisova's accuracy and speed round the court and, despite improving in the second set, went down in 71 minutes.

''It feels great, I'm so happy I'm through,'' a delighted Vaidisova said.

''It's great for Czech tennis to have two (players) in a quarter-final and you don't want to play your friend but I'm happy.'' Bidding to become the first Czech woman to reach the semi-finals at Melbourne Park since Jana Novotna in 1991, it was the younger Vaidisova who was the quickest out of the blocks.

Showing the kind of form that got her to the last four at Roland Garros last year, she worked her opponent around the court with a crisp crosscourt backhand earning her the first break of serve for a 3-1 lead.

Safarova, the world number 70, looked a different player to the one that outclassed second seed Mauresmo on Sunday and was broken again in the sixth game to give Vaidisova a 5-1 advantage.

She carried the momentum into the second with an opening service break before Safarova finally found some form to level the set at 2-2.

Safarova, her right thigh heavily strapped after an injury picked up at the Hopman Cup, missed her chance for a second break when she wasted two break points with Vaidisova serving at 3-4.

The 17-year-old held on and a drifting long backhand from Safarova gave her the ultimately decisive break for a 5-4 lead and she sealed the win when Safarova's backhand service return sailed wide.

''I knew it would be tough because she has a similar game to me, fast, flat,'' said Safarova. ''I knew if I was to win I would have to serve well and that was the difference, she was serving so well.'' Vaidisova faces either unseeded Serena Williams of the US or Israel's 16th seed Shahar Peer for a place in the final.

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