Top-seeded American Lindsay Davenport and defending champion Maria Sharapova of Russia led the way into the Wimbledon semifinals Tuesday. French star Amelie Mauresmo and two-time titlist Venus Williams of the U.S. also secured berths in Thursday's final four. The world No. 1 Davenport dismissed fifth-seeded U.S. Open champion Svetlana Kuznetsova 7-6 (7-1), 6-3 on Court 1 to avenge a loss in last year's semifinals at Flushing Meadows. Davenport broke Kuznetsova's capable serve three times and the Russian committed seven double faults to help the American along. The three-time Grand Slam champion Davenport captured Wimbledon in 1999 and was the 2000 runner-up to Venus. The 29-year-old Californian was this year's Australian Open runner-up to Serena Williams and hasn't won a major title since the 2000 Aussie Open. Davenport's semifinal opponent will be the third-seeded Mauresmo. The second-seeded Sharapova disposed of eighth-seeded fellow Russian Nadia Petrova 7-6 (8-6), 6-3 on Court 1 to secure her 22nd straight victory on grass. Sharapova, who hasn't dropped a set on grass over the last two years, stunned Serena in straight sets in last year's Wimbledon finale. Sharapova recorded only 13 unforced errors and prevented Petrova from breaking her quality serve on Day 8. The 18-year-old Sharapova reached the semifinals at the Australian Open in January and bowed out in the quarterfinals at the French Open earlier this month. She'll perform in her third career major semifinal on Thursday. Up next for Sharapova will be the 14th-seeded Venus. Also into the semis is Mauresmo, who, like Sharapova, has yet to drop a set at this '05 fortnight after she handled ninth-seeded Russian Anastasia Myskina 6-3, 6-4 on the famed Centre Court. Mauresmo recorded four breaks of serve in the match, compared to two for the 2004 French Open champ. This marks the former world No. 1 Mauresmo's third trip to the semifinals at the All England Club in four years. She skipped the tournament in 2003 due to injury. The 25-year-old Mauresmo is now a five-time Grand Slam semifinalist. She was the runner-up at the Australian Open in 1999 and is still seeking her first- ever major championship. The 25-year-old Venus got off to a fast start against 12th-seeded French Open runner-up Mary Pierce before being tested in the second set of her 6-0, 7-6 (12-10) victory over the veteran Frenchwoman on Centre Court. The two-time Grand Slam champion Pierce lost to Justine Henin-Hardenne in the French Open finale earlier this month. Pierce blew five set points in the second set against Venus, who advanced on her second match point of the day when Pierce misfired long on one final backhand. Venus committed only 14 unforced errors and did not have her serve broken by the resurgent Pierce. The French star never even enjoyed one break-point opportunity in the bout. The former world No. 1 Venus is a four-time Grand Slam champ, including back- to-back Wimbledon titles in 2000 and 2001. She was the 2002 and 2003 Wimbledon runner-up to her younger sister Serena. Venus' last major title came at the 2001 U.S. Open. For the first time in the Open Era, Russia placed four women in the quarterfinals of a Grand Slam event. Three of the four semifinalists here are either current of former world No. 1s, while Sharapova is currently second on the planet, and three of the remaining women have captured the Wimbledon title. The top-ranked Davenport will meet the world No. 3 Mauresmo for a 12th time, with the big American holding a commanding 8-3 lead in their lifetime series. In their lone Grand Slam meeting, however, the French star prevailed in the semifinals at the '99 Aussie Open. Davenport has won their last five matchups. Sharapova will take on Venus for a third time, with the Russian sensation holding a 2-0 lead in their all-time set. Sharapova beat Venus in a semifinal in Miami earlier this year.