Latest results

The unseeded Belgian, who missed most of last year with a wrist injury, did not have to work hard for her victory.

Dementieva made 41 unforced errors as Clijsters triumphed in 54 minutes.

She will now play top seed Amelie Mauresmo who also claimed an easy victory, beating Serbian teenager Ana Ivanovic 6-1 6-4.

Mauresmo raced into 6-1 3-0 lead before Ivanovic began to fight back, but Mauresmo eventually closed out the encounter on her fourth match point.

"Since the tournament started, I feel like I'm playing better and better," Mauresmo said.

I would love to get the number one ranking back but my goals are somewhere else Amelie Mauresmo

"The first set and a half today was the best. But also she was giving me some free points. I didn't have to work too hard for the first nine or 10 games."

The Frenchwoman needs to win this title to have any chance of recapturing the number one ranking from Lindsay Davenport.

"I'm focused on that but it's not my main focus," Mauresmo added.

I think the game and also doing well in these big events is more important to me. Of course, I would love to get it back but my goals are somewhere else."

Ivanovic's display in Miami means she will move up the rankings into the top 50 for the first time.

Mauresmo isn't a threat for me. Clijsters to win her semi comfortably From Chris Have your say on tennis

She said: "Mauresmo was just playing constantly well.

"I am pretty happy with my effort but there are still so many things I have to improve."

Clijsters was delighted with her form, saying: "I feel like I'm hitting as good as I can at the moment.

"I feel like I'm doing things off-site for my tennis to make sure that I just have to focus on those things - that's making me feel comfortable out there on the court.

"I'm enjoying playing very much. It's a great feeling to be back out there."