07 February 2004	Saturday	15 Zilhaj 1424

TOKYO, Feb 6: Venus Williams suffered a new injury blow on Friday when she was forced to pull out of the Pan Pacific Open with a strained leg muscle, giving beleaguered organisers another headache.

The former world number one, who was playing only her second tournament since being sidelined for six months with an abdominal injury, withdrew before her quarter-final with fellow American Chanda Rubin.

Tournament organisers were already reeling after a female spectator fell four metres from a temporary stand after slipping through a loose floorboard and had to be taken to hospital on Thursday.

"Basically, I originally had the issue in Australia," said a dejected Williams, upset in the third round of the Australian Open last month in her return from injury.

"Today, it was very difficult for me in practice to move or play in any way, shape or form that was normal for me. It's the lower right leg, below the knee and basically, it's hard to move."

Williams was beaten by compatriot Lisa Raymond in Melbourne in her third match since losing to younger sister Serena in last year's Wimbledon final. The 23-year-old had also felt a twinge during her only match in Tokyo, a 6-3 6-4 victory over Japan's Saori Obata on Thursday.

"It's not really funny. I was getting various treatments from the tournament doctor but things just didn't click for me," said Venus. However, the top seed's absence from the semi-final line-up will boost Lindsay Davenport's chances of winning a fourth Pan Pacific Open title.

The big-hitting Californian overpowered Daniela Hantuchova 6-2 6-2 to reach the last four of the $1.3 million event. Second seed Davenport, champion in 1998, 2001 and 2003, dominated the willowy Slovakian to set up a semi-final showdown with Jelena Dokic, who pulverised Russia's Tatiana Panova 6-1 6-1 in only her third match of 2004.

"I was really trying to stay positive and I probably played the best match I've played this year so far," said Davenport, beaten by world number one Justine Henin-Hardenne in the Australian Open quarter-finals.

Seventh seed Dokic, who skipped Melbourne for the third year running, showed glimpses of the form that took her to number four in the world two years ago, destroying Panova in just 44 minutes.

"I had a very tough season last year - on and off the court. I went from being number four to not being able to play so well. I felt my head was not there," said the 20-year-old from Serbia and Montenegro.

"My head is the key to winning matches. I started working very, very hard at the end of last year and it paid off. I think I've got my focus back, because I'd lost it a little bit." Fifth seed Rubin will play Magdalena Maleeva in Saturday's semi-finals after the Bulgarian thrashed Japanese fourth seed Ai Sugiyama 6-1 6-1.

Results:

Quarterfinals: 5-Chanda Rubin (U.S.) beat 1-Venus Williams (U.S.) walkover; Magdalena Maleeva (Bulgaria) beat 4-Ai Sugiyama (Japan) 6-1 6-1; 2-Lindsay Davenport (U.S.) beat 8-Daniela Hantuchova (Slovakia) 6-2 6-2; 7-Jelena Dokic (Serbia & Montenegro) beat Tatiana Panova (Russia) 6-1 6-1. -Reuters