World number one Dinara Safina [Images] fought back to defeat Daniela Hantuchova [Images] 1-6, 6-4, 6-3 on Thursday to reach the semi-finals of the Den Bosch Open.

Safina, chasing her first Den Bosch title after twice finishing runner-up, needed almost two hours to overcome the sixth-seeded Slovak.

The Russian next faces holder Tamarine Tanasugarn [Images] of Thailand, who also needed three sets to oust Italy's [Images] Flavia Pennetta [Images] 2-6, 6-3, 6-3.

The other semi-final will feature Yanina Wickmayer of Belgium, who crushed Germany's [Images] Kristina Barrois 6-1, 6-1, and Italian Francesca Schiavone, a 6-1, 6-3 winner over Olga Govortsova of Belarus.

In the men's event, holder David Ferrer fell 6-4, 6-2 to fellow Spaniard Ivan Navarro.

The unseeded Navarro next plays Dutchman Raemon Sluiter, who beat Israel's Dudi Sela 4-6, 6-4, 6-4.

Benjamin Becker defeated France's [Images] Michael Llodra 7-6, 7-5 to set up a clash with fellow German Rainer Schuettler [Images], the fourth seed having put out Frenchman Jeremy Chardy 7-6, 3-6, 7-6.

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