Pacific Life Open – All results of day nine.

TeamWTA Photo
By Etienne Stekelenburg
March 18 2005

American Lindsay Davenport had a slow start against French Nathalie Dechy but managed to win in straight sets 7-6, 6-0. Russian Maria Sharapova had no problems with Mary Pierce of France 6-4, 6-3 and meets Davenport in the semi final at the Pacific Life Open at Indian Wells.

After a sluggish start top seed Lindsay Davenport defeats Nathalie Dechy to advance to the semi final. It was Davenport’s seventh victory over Dechy who is ranked at #14 winning 7-6 (2) and 6-0.

"I let her back (in the first set) so many times," Davenport said. "Both games up 40-love, was serving, got broken both of those. "Once I held to get to 6-all, I never really looked back from that point."

Davenport almost played on her home ground, she grew up on the west coast. Born in Palos Verdes and now living in Laguna Beach, she was close enough to home for her family to drop by and see her play.

"I feel very comfortable playing here," said Davenport. "I've always loved my time out here and won a lot of matches throughout my career in Indian Wells. ”"I like it that I have my family around, friends come out. My mom's been here the whole time with me, and my husband's gone back and forth."

Dechy, who had a chance winning the first set and was very disappointed with how the second set went for her.

"The first set was a pretty good level of tennis, then I dropped mine in the second set and she raised hers," said Dechy, “she started playing really well when she was down 6-5."

Russian Maria Sharapova didn’t have any problems against Frenchwoman Mary Pierce who had beaten the Russian at last years US Open.

"I think I learn a lot from losses and they make me a lot tougher," Sharapova said. "I was very disappointed (at the U.S. Open), and I went out there and I worked really hard."

"I'm really excited," Sharapova said about meeting Davenport in the semi final. "It's definitely not going to be an easy match. But I feel I know what I need to do and hopefully I'll go out there and play as well as I did today."