Sanchez-Vicario reaches semifinals
July 12, 2002

BRUSSELS, Belgium (AP) -- Top-seeded Arantxa Sanchez-Vicario dropped the first set, then dominated Spanish compatriot Magui Serna to advance Friday to the semifinals of the French Community tournament.

Sanchez-Vicario, the former world No. 1 now ranked 32nd, won 3-6, 6-2, 6-2. On Saturday, she'll face eighth-seeded Emilie Loit of France, who reached the semifinals with a 4-6, 7-5, 6-3 victory over Austrian Barbara Schwartz.

Seeking to rediscover the form that brought her four Grand Slam titles from 1989 to 1998, Sanchez-Vicario outlasted fifth-seeded Serna in a baseline struggle on the red clay of the Royal Leopold Club. She won the match when Serna overhit a sliced volley on a rare foray to the net.

Virginia Ruano Pascual upset second-seeded Austrian Barbara Schett 6-4, 3-6, 6-1 to set up the possibility of an all-Spanish final against Sanchez-Vicario. First, Ruano Pascual will first have to overcome wild card Myriam Casanova of Switzerland, a 6-4, 7-5 winner over German Martina Muller.

The win continues a promising debut WTA season for 17-year-old Casanova. She reached the third round last month at Wimbledon.