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)