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8/23/2001
Clijsters, Davenport, Capriati Advance to New Haven Semis
NEW HAVEN, Conn. (AP) -- Kim Clijsters is having the time of her life this year.
The Belgian teen-ager is enjoying a career-best No. 5 ranking, appeared in her first Grand Slam final at the French Open and finally beat Lindsay Davenport after five tries.
The two meet again Friday in the semifinals of the Pilot Pen tournament. After a week's layoff for a sore wrist, Davenport sharpened her game this week with easy wins over Anastasia Myskina and Amelie Mauresmo.
Clijsters was watching.
``She looked like she was moving very well. She looked very fit,'' Clijsters said of Davenport. ``She's very, very strong.''
Clijsters beat Davenport for the title in Stanford last month, her fourth career singles title. In her breakthrough year, the 18-year-old Clijsters is learning what it takes to beat the tour's elite.
``It's very important to stay with them from the very first point,'' she said. ``You have to run all the balls back in and hope that sometimes they can have a few off games.''
Davenport, the tournament's top seed, is looking for her fifth title of the year.
Clijsters advanced to the semifinals with a 6-2, 6-2 win over Nathalie Tauziat. She broke Tauziat's serve five times. Clijsters also showed a lot of confidence in her serve, with two second-serve aces.
``I do that quite often,'' she said. ``All the players expect the second serve to go for a safer second serve and always expect to get a kick serve to the backhand.''
Tauziat, who will be 34 in October, said she is retiring from singles play at the end of the season.
``I think it is time to stay home and have a quiet life,'' Tauziat said.
Jennifer Capriati also advanced to the semifinals with a 6-4, 6-3 win over Jelena Dokic on Thursday. She plays the winner of Friday's Venus Williams-Justine Henin match, which was suspended Thursday night by rain.
Williams and Henin met in the Wimbledon final, and Williams prevailed in three sets for her second straight win at the All-England Club.
Capriati righted her rocky service game for the straight-sets win, serving 10 aces, including three in a row at more than 100 mph. Although she missed many of her first serves, Capriati recorded just five double-faults, compared to 13 on Wednesday.
Her improved serve, combined with her strength and experience, were too much for Dokic, who is ranked 14th.
``Our games are very similar. I think she's physically a little bit stronger, and mentally also,'' Dokic said.
Dokic kept attacking Capriati's backhand. The players pushed each other from corner to corner throughout the match.
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Clijsters, Davenport, Capriati Advance to New Haven SemisNEW HAVEN, Conn. (AP) -- Kim Clijsters is having the time of her life this year. The Belgian teen-ager is enjoying a career-best No. 5 ranking, appeared in her first Grand Slam final at the French Open and finally beat Lindsay Davenport after five tries. The two meet again Friday in the semifinals of the Pilot Pen tournament. After a week's layoff for a sore wrist, Davenport sharpened her game this week with easy wins over Anastasia Myskina and Amelie Mauresmo. Clijsters was watching. ``She looked like she was moving very well. She looked very fit,'' Clijsters said of Davenport. ``She's very, very strong.'' Clijsters beat Davenport for the title in Stanford last month, her fourth career singles title. In her breakthrough year, the 18-year-old Clijsters is learning what it takes to beat the tour's elite. ``It's very important to stay with them from the very first point,'' she said. ``You have to run all the balls back in and hope that sometimes they can have a few off games.'' Davenport, the tournament's top seed, is looking for her fifth title of the year. Clijsters advanced to the semifinals with a 6-2, 6-2 win over Nathalie Tauziat. She broke Tauziat's serve five times. Clijsters also showed a lot of confidence in her serve, with two second-serve aces. ``I do that quite often,'' she said. ``All the players expect the second serve to go for a safer second serve and always expect to get a kick serve to the backhand.'' Tauziat, who will be 34 in October, said she is retiring from singles play at the end of the season. ``I think it is time to stay home and have a quiet life,'' Tauziat said. Jennifer Capriati also advanced to the semifinals with a 6-4, 6-3 win over Jelena Dokic on Thursday. She plays the winner of Friday's Venus Williams-Justine Henin match, which was suspended Thursday night by rain. Williams and Henin met in the Wimbledon final, and Williams prevailed in three sets for her second straight win at the All-England Club. Capriati righted her rocky service game for the straight-sets win, serving 10 aces, including three in a row at more than 100 mph. Although she missed many of her first serves, Capriati recorded just five double-faults, compared to 13 on Wednesday. Her improved serve, combined with her strength and experience, were too much for Dokic, who is ranked 14th. ``Our games are very similar. I think she's physically a little bit stronger, and mentally also,'' Dokic said. Dokic kept attacking Capriati's backhand. The players pushed each other from corner to corner throughout the match. |