Daniela Hantuchova believes a physical edge was the difference as she came through an epic quarter-final encounter with Shahar Peer at the Pacific Life Open in Indian Wells.
The number 14 seed overcame her Israeli opponent 6-2 5-7 7-6 (7/5) in a match that was nearing three hours in length to book a semi-final meeting with China's Na Li.
'I guess the more time I spend on the court, the better for me,' said Hantuchova after moving one step closer to only a second career title.
'I always feel like I've got the physical advantage with the players, that I can last a little longer maybe than they can, and that gives me a lot of confidence.'
The Slovakian easily took the first set, capitalising on Peer's below-par serve to give little indication of the tussle to come.
However, Hantuchova's game fell apart in a second set in which both players had opportunities, as she committed 51 unforced errors to allow the 11th-seeded Peer to get back into the match.
The third set went all the way with both players breaking the other twice.
Peer took the early lead in the third set before Hantuchova spurned the opportunity to serve for the victory at 5-4, before eventually coming out on top in an equally close tiebreak.
The world number 18 is looking forward to her clash with Li.
'It's gonna be a great match,' she said.
'She's a great player, great fighter, so it's going to be again, very, very difficult match. But I'm looking forward to it and I'm gonna give it my best.'
Li became the first women into the semi-finals after a straight sets victory over Vera Zvonareva.
After digging deep in her impressive win over top seed Maria Sharapova the previous day, 15th seed Zvonareva could not find the same depths of resilience against the Chinese player as Li won in straight sets 6-4 7-5.
Li rallied from 1-5 down in the first set and the second set swung back and forth before the 12th seed eventually came out on top to go through to her second Tier I semi-final.
