( CNN ) -- Serena Williams avenged her 2009 French Open defeat against Svetlana Kuznetsova when beating the unseeded Russian 6-1 3-6 6-3 in a gripping quarterfinal . Kuznetsova lifted the trophy at Roland Garros in 2009 but was unable to repeat her success despite breaking the world No . 1 's serve for the first time in the tournament . Williams cruised to the first set in 28 minutes but that was an inaccurate barometer of what was to come , with the remainder of the match taking an hour and a half . Despite Kuznetsova taking an early break in the third set , Williams found another level to reach the French Open semifinals for the first time since 2003 . The 31-year-old may have 15 grand slams to her name but she will be conscious that only one of those came in Paris , back in 2002 when beating sister Venus in the final . `` I was so determined to get through that match , and I really , really , really wanted it more than anyone , I think , '' she told reporters afterwards . `` I was really just fighting , giving it everything I had out there . I 've been able to come back a lot throughout my career . I do n't think anything really changed . '' Victory extended Williams ' record winning streak to 29 matches , a run that has only been bettered by her sister Venus ( 35 ) and Belgium 's Justine Henin ( 32 ) this century . She will face Italian fifth seed Sara Errani in the semifinal after last year 's runner-up continued her fine form at Roland Garros when beating fourth seed Agnieszka Radwanska 6-4 7-6 ( 8-6 ) . The victory was Errani 's first against a player ranked in the top five and now she must beat Williams for the first time if she is to return to the final , where she was beaten by Maria Sharapova last year . Former champion Monica Seles , who won the French Open three times between 1990-1992 , believes Errani 's chances are slim . `` I think Serena is playing the best clay court tennis of her life , '' she told CNN . `` I think that having a tough match like she did today , when she played three sets , will only make her stronger . She 's also as focused as I 've ever seen her . '' Williams may have lost in the first round in Paris last year but she has dominated the women 's game since -- winning Wimbledon , the Olympic singles and doubles , the U.S. Open and the WTA Championships . After paying tribute to Kuznetsova , who came into Roland Garros ranked No . 39 after missing the second half of last year with a knee injury , Williams turned her attentions to an opponent against whom she boasts a 5-0 record . `` Svetlana played very well , '' she said after her toughest match of the championships . `` She 's such a great player . She 's taken a little time off due to injury , but she 's been consistent , at least in the slams . `` She has won this tournament before so I am happy to get through such a tough match . It was very difficult and I am very tired . `` Against Sara , it will be another tough match , she 's a great fighter . '' Errani is now through to her third grand slam semifinal , having also made the last four at the U.S. Open last year . Having finally ended a run of 28 matches against players ranked in the top five , she is now hoping that Williams ' relative lack of success may count in her favor . `` It 's going to be very difficult because she 's very strong , and physically she 's an incredible athlete , '' Errani said . `` She has a lot of power and it 's never easy to play against her . But maybe clay is a bit better than the other surfaces for me . '' On Wednesday , defending champion Sharapova takes on Jelena Jankovic and Maria Kirilenko faces Victoria Azarenka in the remaining quarterfinals .
Serena Williams beats 2009 French Open Svetlana Kuznetsova in three sets . World number one to face last year 's runner-up Sara Errani in last four . Italian returns to semifinals after beating Agnieszka Radwanska in straight sets .