All-Russian Semi on Tap

Anna Chakvetadze and Svetlana Kuznetsova ran there way through Shahar Peer and Agnes Svazay today to set up an all-Russian semi-final between two Muscovites overshadowed for years by Maria Sharapova, despite their rise to the top 10. After this tournament, both should be ensconsced in the top five.
This was supposed to be Maria's section of the draw, her catwalk to the finals.
Instead, it may be Chakvetadze's opportunity to announce her entry in earnest to the elite among women's tennis. She's just 20 years old, which may have felt old when she played 16-year-old Tamira Paszek in the round of 16.
But Chakvetadze's peak years may lie before her. Working some now with Robert Lansdorf, who coached such former U.S. Open champs as Tracy Austin, Lindsay Davenport and Pete Sampras, Chakvetadze seems to be well-grounded like those players too and have solid groundies to boot.
And she's having a breakthrough year, having reached at least the third round in all of the Grand Slams. She's also made it to the quarters of the Australian and French, and now at least the semis of the U.S. Open. This should be a nice time in her career when expectations aren't yet sky high and she's quietly making her way through the draw as past champions like Hingis and Sharapova fall by the wayside.
Compare Chakvetadze's year with Henins' breakthrough year, just six years ago when Henin suddenly was into the 4th round of the Australian, semis of the French Open, a runner-up at Wimbledon and the 4th round of the U.S. Open. Chakvetadze's breakthrough year compares very favorably and bodes well for the up-and-coming Russian.
And did I mention she seems nice? What's becoming of women's tennis?