TNT Sports
Belgians challenge sisters
By
Published 01/07/2003 at 14:24 GMT+1
Third seed Justine Henin-Herdenne became the only quarter-finalist to advance in straight sets after crushing Russia's Svetlana Kuznetsova 6-2 6-2 to set up a rematch of her Roland Garros semi-final against Serena Williams who beat Jennifer Capriati at Wi
Eurosport
Image credit: TNT Sports
HENIN by KUZNETSOVA 6-2 6-2
The 21-year-old Belgian had too many shots for Kuznetzova, who could do little but shake her head as Henin pelted down groundstroke winners on both sides of the court.
"I think I played really good I had to be focused because she is very tough. I served well and stayed aggressive," Henin said.
Henin, runner-up here in 2001, broke the 18-year-old Russian's serve twice in each set before winning the match in 58 minutes with a whipping forehand that Kuznetzova could only plant in the net.
"I think being again in the semi-finals is great after what happened at Roland Garros, I like this tournament and mentally I'm very strong,"
she added.
The Belgian, who has yet to drop a set here, beat Serena in a bad-tempered semi-final at Roland Garros last month.
"Just one more match, I will give my best, she is the favourite (Serena) but it's going to be tough match," she concluded.
SERENA bt CAPRIATI 2-6 6-2 6-3
Capriati was the last player to beat Serena at Wimbledon -- at the same stage in 2001 -- and a repeat looked on the cards when she romped through the first set in 27 minutes against a strangely wayward Serena.
But the defending champion suddenly clicked into gear and after she broke serve with a bludgeoning backhand to lead 3-2 in the second set, the tide began to turn.
She raced through the next six games to lead 3-0 in the decider and, although eighth seed Capriati hung on gamely -- winning one incredible 31-stroke rally when serving to stay in the match -- Serena proved unstoppable.
In a thrilling final game with both players at the peak of their powers, Capriati carved out two break points, netting a forehand on one and being passed on the other.
Serena then clinched victory in one hour 39 minutes as Capriati dragged a forehand into the net with her opponent stranded out of position.
"She played really well, I don't think there was much that I could do out there," Capriati said. "She had to play her best to beat me. This is the closest I've been to beating her for a long time."
VENUS bt DAVENPORT 6-2 2-6 6-1
Fourth seed Venus, the winner here in 2000 and 2001, reached her fourth consecutive semi-final at the All England Club as she finally overpowered Davenport from the baseline to set up a showdown with second seed Kim Clijsters.
Unperturbed by a 80-minute rain break early in the contest, Venus clubbed the 1999 champion from the baseline in the opening set as Davenport's forehand rapidly started to collapse.
Breaking the brittle Davenport serve for the third time in the match, Venus claimed the first set with a blazing forehand crosscourt winner.
But Davenport refused to surrender her title hopes and frustrated her opponent in the second with a flurry of blistering groundstrokes to level the match after Venus floated a service return long.
The world number four, however, kept her nerve in a high-octane final set to seal victory after one hour 27 minutes with a bludgeoning smash.
CLIJSTERS bt FARINA ELIA 5-7 6-0 6-1
The world number two had only dropped 12 games in reaching the last eight, but she was made to work overtime against the 31-year-old who is enjoying her best run here on her 12th consecutive appearance.
After squandering three set points on her way to dropping a rain-interrupted first set -- her first of the tournament -- the 20-year-old Clijsters finally got to grips with her cagey opponent and rattled off the next nine games to take control.
"I had to find my rhythm and my zone and once I felt it I played very well, also my first serve went up and against her it's a good thing to do," Clijsters said just after her victory.
The Italian, who made her Wimbledon debut when Clijsters was eight, broke the spell at 0-3 in the third, but by that stage the battle was all but lost.
Clijsters, watched by boyfriend Lleyton Hewitt, wrapped up victory with her seventh ace in one hour and 24 minutes.
"It's a good feeling to be to be in another semi and especially here," said the twice French Open runner-up, who will face Venus Williams for a place in the final.
Advertisement
Advertisement