Wimbledon champion Maria Sharapova [Images] set up a semi-final showdown against Slovakia's Daniela Hantuchova [Images] in the $600,000 Qatar Open in Doha, on Thursday.

The other semi-final will be between world number two Amelie Mauresmo of France [Images] and number nine Alicia Molik [Images] of Australia, a repeat of a clash in Belgium last Saturday when Mauresmo won.

Sharapova posted an easy 6-3, 6-2 win over Frenchwoman Marion Bartoli after Hantuchova had defeated ex-Wimbledon champion Conchita Martinez of Spain 6-4, 6-1 in a rain-affected match.

Seeded second, Sharapova took some time to find her rhythm, but once she did, there was no stopping her. She won the first set 6-3, breaking Bartoli three times, and with another three breaks quickly jumped to a 5-0 lead in the second.

Play was stopped for nearly three hours in Hantuchova's match when she led 5-4 in the first set against Martinez.

It was a clash between the two resurgent players, both returning to form after a couple of disappointing seasons.

Hantuchova was more confident, though Martinez, 32, had an extra spring in her heels after her stunning win over defending champion Anastasia Myskina [Images] of Russia [Images] on Wednesday.

The Slovak said: "I stayed calm during the break and I was able to stay focused when play resumed."

Top seed Mauresmo stayed on course for a third final appearance in as many weeks with a 6-2, 6-2 win over Russian qualifier Maria Kirilenko.

Mauresmo, champion in Antwerp last week and runner-up in Paris the week before, kept her winning streak alive with a flawless display against Kirilenko.

Fourth seeded Molik survived a mid-match crisis before quelling Francesca Schiavone of Italy [Images] 6-2, 3-6, 7-6.

Molik is another player in form. She won the Sydney title and then reached the quarter-finals at the Australian Open. Last week she made the semi-finals at Antwerp but lost 6-3, 7-6 to Mauresmo.

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