Petite Frenchwoman Nathalie Dechy has muscled her way into the semi-finals of the Australian Open and declared: "I want to continue."

In the best performance of the 25-year-old's career, Dechy disposed of eccentric Swiss star Patty Schnyder in a gruelling three-set clash which dragged on for two hours 33 minutes.

In stifling heat, Dechy levelled her record against the 12th seeded Schnyder at 2-2 with her 5-7 6-1 7-5 win.

Born in the Caribbean island of Guadeloupe and now based in Belgium, Dechy, who ended 2004 with a career-high ranking of 21, said she was now ready to take the next step.

She put down her win to her refusal to buckle against the relentless Schnyder and the oppressive conditions.

"It's incredible," she said of her victory.

"I think it was my fighting spirit, I just pressed myself from the beginning to the end.

"It was a real battle but I never gave up. I was very positive and I was thinking: Just go for it."

Dechy, who won the Gold Coast tournament in 2003, said the importance of this achievement - she had never gone past the fourth round of a major before - had been slow to sink in.

"After the match I didn't realise it but I am really proud of what I did and I want to keep going, that's for sure," she said.

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