Mauresmo unable to work magic over Serena

By Chris Davies
June 3 2003

Serena Williams was in devastating mood in her highly anticpated match up with 5th seed Amelie Mauresmo which didn't live up to expectation, Kim Clijsters, Justine Henin-Hardenne and Nadia Petrova also advnaced into the semi's

Williams was totally pumped up all the way through the match and ruthless with her forehands and her power was a level not seen before. Mauresmo double faulted on her opening service game allowing Serena into a 4-0 lead before Amelie broke for 4-1 but was too late as the world number one wrapped the first set 6-1.

The second set was better for Mauresmo has she made Williams play more balls and made a lot of unforced errors but still the Frenchwoman was down 4-0 again in the second set. The French crowd tried to motivate their player but it was not good enough having finally winning her service game then broke yet again for 2-4. She then had chances to break the Williams serve for a 5-3 deficit but the American held her nerve with a very comprehensive win for her second semi-final at Roland Garros.

Justine Henin-Hardenne will be Williams next opponent has she eased to victory of Chanda Rubin 6-3, 6-2 who did not trouble the brilliant Belguim through their quarter-final clash which lasted 66 minutes. Henin-Hardenne has had trouble through some matches in the last week but seems to be very dangerous and Serena will want revenge after her Family Circle Cup final loss to her.

Kim Clijsters stormed into her second semi-final demolishing Conchita Martinez 6-2, 6-1. Both players struggled with their serves with the world number 2 wrapped victory in 69 minutes on her second match point. Clijsters now plays Nadia Petrova and the number 2 seed is weary of the Russian giantkiller. "She is obviously playing very well. I just ahve to be very aggressive and make her move. Motion is maybe one of her weakness".

Petrova became the first Russian to get into the French Open Semi-finals for more than 25 year after she beat compatriot Vera Zvonareva. At one set all and 4-3 to Petrova the crucial break of serve came with the older Russian storming to 0-40 to give her a chance to serve out for the match which she did winning 6-1, 4-6, 6-3.