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| May 17, 2003 | Saturday | Rabi-ul-Awwal 14, 1424 |
Sugiyama makes history
ROME, May 16: Thirteenth seed Ai Sugiyama became the first Japanese player ever to reach the semifinals of the Rome Masters after brushing aside unseeded Slovenian Tina Pisnik in straight sets on Friday.
Sugiyama, who was knocked out in the first round in Berlin last week, said a quick turn of foot was the secret behind her success in her seventh appearance at the Foro Italico.
Sugiyama will meet the winner of Friday’s late match between Belgian second seed Kim Clijsters and Russian eighth seed Anastasia Myskina.
Earlier, World number one and defending champion Serena Williams cruised into the semi-finals after beating unseeded veteran Conchita Martinez 7-5 6-2.
Mauresmo defeated fifth seed Jennifer Capriati 6-3, 7-6 (12/10) to clinch her place in the semis.
Often a slow starter, Mauresmo was quickest off the mark and broke Capriati early to race into a commanding 3-0 lead.
A runner-up here in 2000 and 2001, the 23-year-old held on to her advantage and wrapped up a solid first set in half an hour in which she hit 10 winners.
After a break apiece in the second set, Mauresmo squandered a 40-0 lead at 5-4 to give Capriati two set points, but saved both to draw level in a gripping match.
Third round results
Serena Williams (U.S.) bt Nathalie Dechy (France) 6-3 6-0; Conchita Martinez (Spain) bt Daniela Hantuchova (Slovakia) 6-3 6-3; Anastasia Myskina (Russia) bt Svetlana Kuznetsova (Russia) 6-4 7-5; 13-Ai Sugiyama (Japan) bt Patty Schnyder (Switzerland) 6-2 6-1; Jennifer Capriati (U.S.) bt Nadia Petrova (Russia) 7-5 6-3; Kim Clijsters (Belgium) bt Cara Black (Zimbabwe) 6-0 6-3; Tina Pisnik (Slovenia) bt Emilie Loit (France) 2-6 6-4 6-1; Amelie Mauresmo (France) bt Anna Pistolesi (Israel) 6-0 6-3
Quarterfinals:
Ai Sugiyama (JPN) bt Tina Pisnik (SLO) 6-1, 6-3; Serena Williams (USA bt; Conchita Martinez (SPA) 7-5, 6-2; Amelie Mauresmo (FRA) bt Jennifer Capriati (USA) 6-3, 7-6 (12/10)
HAMBURG: Guillermo Coria on Friday reached another semi- final of a major event since his return last year from a doping ban as he did his share to help Argentina’s quest to gain all four places left at the 2.45-million euro Hamburg Masters Series.
The 12th seed Coria hammered the conqueror of title holder Roger Federer, big hitting Australian Mark Philippoussis, 6-2, 6-0, in their first ever meeting which lasted a mere 57 minutes.
In an earlier quarterfinal, Wimbledon finalist David Nalbandian won the last five games from 4-1 down in the final set as he defeated Chile’s Fernando Gonzalez, 5-7, 6-4, 6-4.
Thursday results:
Philippoussis (Australia) b Roger Federer (Switzerland)) 6-3 2-6 6-3; Fernando Gonzalez (Chile) bt Lleyton Hewitt (Australia) 6-1 3-6 6-0; David Nalbandian (Argentina) bt Rainer Schuettler (Germany) 7-6 (7-3) 6-2; Gaston Gaudio (Argentina) bt Rafael Nadal (Spain) 6-2 6-2; Guillermo Coria (Argentina) bt Mikhail Youzhny (Russia) 6-3 6-3; Wayne Ferreira (South Africa) bt Gustavo Kuerten (Brazil) 7-6 (7-4) 6-4; Olivier Rochus (Belgium) bt Tim Henman (Britain) 6-4 6-3; Agustin Calleri (Argentina) bt Mariano Zabaleta (Argentina) 6-3 6-0
Quarterfinal results:
Gaston Gaudio bt Olivier Rochus 6-1; 6-1; Agustin Calleri bt Wayne Ferreira (South Africa) 7-5 6-2; David Nalbandian bt Fernando Gonzalez 5-7 6-3 6-4; Guillermo Coria bt Mark Philippoussis 6-2 6-0.—Reuters
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