Svetlana Kuznetsova, of Russia, celebrates after winning 7-5, 6-3, against Timea Bacsinszky, of Switzerland, during the Miami Open tennis tournament in Key Biscayne, Fla., Thursday, March 31, 2016. (AP Photo/Alan Diaz)
Svetlana Kuznetsova, of Russia, celebrates after winning 7-5, 6-3, against Timea Bacsinszky, of Switzerland, during the Miami Open tennis tournament in Key Biscayne, Fla., Thursday, March 31, 2016. (AP Photo/Alan Diaz)

Key Biscayne, Fla. — Serena Williams’ early exit at the Miami Open cleared the way for two younger players to reach the final.

Svetlana Kuznetsova is 30. On Saturday, she’ll face the winner of Thursday night’s semifinal between Angelique Kerber, 28, and Victoria Azarenka, 26.

Eight-time champion Williams, 34, lost to Kuznetsova in the fourth round, but the next generation of women’s tennis wasn’t ready to fill to void.

Instead, Kuznetsova kept winning. In the semifinals, she erased 12 of the 14 break points she faced to beat Timea Bacsinszky 7-5, 6-3.

“It means I’ve been a lot of times out here in front of you guys,” she told the crowd with a laugh.

Kuznetsova hadn’t enjoyed much success at Key Biscayne in recent years, but she won four consecutive three-setters to reach the semifinals. At No. 19, the Russian is the lowest-ranked women’s finalist in the event since No. 38 Kim Clijsters earned the 2005 championship.

“I’m happy I could hang in there,” Kuznetsova said.

Hoffman Starts Strong At Shell Houston Open

Houston — Charley Hoffman birdied half the holes in the first round of the Shell Houston Open on Thursday, grabbing the lead with an 8-under 64.

Hoffman birdied the first four holes of his back nine, and then added another birdie on No. 8. That broke him out of what had been a four-way tie for first with Dustin Johnson, Roberto Castro and Scott Brown, who all shot 65s on the Golf Club of Houston course.

Hoffman, a three-time PGA Tour winner from San Diego, hasn’t held up well on the weekends this season after giving himself good opportunities to claim titles. Closing 75s in his last two stroke-play tournaments even knocked him out of likely top-10 finishes.

Scott Brown, who was born in Augusta, Georgia, and has never played the Masters, was among those at 65.

Lawsuit Contends Baylor Failed to Act on Claim

Dallas — A woman has filed a lawsuit against Baylor University contending the Texas school was “deliberately indifferent” to rape allegations against a former football player who was later convicted of sexually assaulting her.

The lawsuit alleges the largest Baptist school in the country failed to act against Tevin Elliott despite receiving six complaints from women claiming he assaulted them.

The suit was filed by Jasmin Hernandez of Orange County, California. Elliott was convicted in 2014 of sexually assaulting Hernandez.

The Associated Press generally doesn’t identify sexual assault victims, but Hernandez says she’s speaking publicly to draw attention to the case.

Among Hernandez’s allegations are that players were recruited without regard to the harm they might cause others.

Baylor officials said they’re committed to addressing sexual assault complaints appropriately.