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| March 29, 2003 | Saturday | Muharram 25, 1424 |
Serena too strong for Clijsters as rain disrupts play
MIAMI (Florida), March 28: World No. 1 Serena Williams cruised to a 6-4, 6-2 win over third seed Kim Clijsters in the semifinals of the 6.2 million dollar WTA and ATP Masters Series event here on Thursday.
“I’m really excited to be in the final here again,” said Williams. “Three out of six (appearances here) isn’t bad, but I could do better. I was surprised I played this tournament six years - that seems like forever.”
The match was the only singles completed on a day when heavy storms caused delays and, finally, the cancellation of play with one men’s quarterfinal in progress and two more matches yet to go on court.
Men’s fourth seed Roger Federer of Switzerland and ninth seed Albert Costa of Spain were near the end of their quarterfinal nail-biter when thunderstorms halted play.
Costa won the first set 7-6 (7/4), Federer the second set 6-4, and they were tied at 5-5, deuce in the third set when play stopped.
Up a service break at 5-4 in the third set, Federer failed to take advantage of two match points on his serve in the 10th game to finish the match before it began raining.
The Costa-Federer match will be completed on Friday.
The women’s semifinal between sixth seed Jennifer Capriati and 12th seed Chanda Rubin, as well as the other men’s quarterfinal between second seed Andre Agassi and Younes El Aynaoui never made it to court and were also rescheduled for Friday.
Top seed Williams, 21, will be seeking her second-straight title here, having beaten Capriati in last year’s final.
Williams lost in the final here four years ago to her older sister Venus. No. 2 seed Venus failed to make the quarterfinals this year after being beaten by Meghann Shaughnessy.
Clijsters, whose only victory in eight matches against Serena Williams was in the 2002 year end WTA Championships final, squandered a 5-1 lead in the third set of their semifinal at the Australian Open in January.
Clijsters, of Belgium, is widely viewed as the player with the best chance to challenge Serena but there was no hint of that on Thursday.
“I started off playing well, but at the end of the first set, after a few rallies, I felt physically and mentally empty,” said Clijsters.
Clijsters, who won the Indian Wells tournament last week, said she plans to take a break from competition.
“I played a lot of singles and doubles in the last few weeks. I could not bring myself back to a competitive level. I’m taking four or five weeks off after here.”
Williams is hoping to win her third title in three tournaments this year.
She won her fourth consecutive Grand Slam trophy at the Australian Open in January and then scored the victory at the Open Gaz de France in February.
Serena Williams posted a total of 22 winners to only six for Clijsters in the 54-minute match. In the first set alone, Clijsters had a scant two winners to 15 for Williams.
Clijsters offered up break point opportunities and Williams jumped on five of the offerings - in the first, fifth and ninth games of the first set and the first and third games of the second set.
In contrast, the Clijsters was able to play break serve on two of nine chances, in the second and eighth games of the opening set.
Although Williams was clearly the better player she also posted 37 unforced errors to 28 for Clijsters.
“I guess I’m moving pretty well around the court - I’m definitely moving fast,” Williams said. “I’m not too happy with the way I played today, personally.”
Williams ended the matchup on a high note, serving an ace at 40-0 to close out the match.
Williams holds a 7-4 win-loss record over Capriati and is 1-1 in meetings with Rubin.
“I don’t have a preference,” Williams said. “Either way, I’m going to have to come out and perform. That’s just the bottom line.”
Results (x denotes seed, play halted for day because of rain):
WOMEN
Semifinals: Serena Williams (USA x1) bt Kim Clijsters (BEL x3) 6-4, 6-2
MEN
Quarterfinals: Albert Costa (SPA x9) tied with Roger Federer (SWI) 7-6 (7/4), 4-6, 5-5, rain stopped play (match to resume Friday).—AFP
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