LOS ANGELES, Nov 13: France's Amelie Mauresmo and Russian Maria Sharapova reached the semifinals of the season-ending WTA Tour Championships on Friday, but American Lindsay Davenport, trying to hold on to her world number one ranking, was left in limbo.
Mauresmo defeated US Open champion Svetlana Kuznetsova of Russia 6-3, 6-2. Wimbledon champion Sharapova, 17, defeated compatriot Vera Zvonareva 6-4, 7-5 and like Mauresmo kept a perfect 2-0 record in round-robin play.The situation in the Red Group was less clear after French Open champion Anastasia Myskina upset Davenport 7-6 (7/5), 6-4.
Mauresmo fired nine aces, and despite eight double faults was able to come up with the points on her serve when she needed them. Once again against Davenport, Myskina was up a set and and two breaks in the second when Davenport broke back and held to narrow the gap to 3-2.
In Dementieva, Myskina will be facing the woman she beat in the French Open final as well as in the final in Moscow in October. Dementieva has lost both of her opening matches here, and Myskina predicted she would be motivated not only to avenge those defeats but also to avoid being whitewashed in the prestigious season finale. Kuznetsova, with a round-robin record of 1-2, and Zvonareva, winless in three matches, were eliminated.
Results:
Round-robin singles
Red Group 3-Anastasia Myskina (Russia) beat 1-Lindsay Davenport (U.S.) 7-6 (7-5) 6-4
