Capriati on target

Published March 4, 2002

SCOTTSDALE (Arizona), March 3: Jennifer Capriati is on target to go back to the top of the world rankings after overcoming Nathalie Dechy of France 6-2 6-3 on Saturday to reach the final of the $585,000 Scottsdale Classic.

Capriati lost the No. 1 spot to Venus Williams last Monday, but will try to displace her fellow American in next week’s rankings by beating younger sister Serena to the desert title and the $93,000 winner’s cheque on Sunday.

Earlier on Saturday, third seed Serena defeated second-seeded Swiss Martina Hingis 6-1 3-6 6-4.

Serena, though, will try to keep the world number one crown on Venus’s head, and win her first title of the year.

SAN JOSE OPEN:

Semifinals: 1-Lleyton Hewitt (Australia) beat 4-Jan Michael Gambill (U.S.) 7-5 6-4; 2-Andre Agassi (U.S.) beat 3-Andy Roddick (U.S.) 6-3 6-1

DUBAI OPEN:

Semifinals: Younes El Aynaoui (Morocco) beat 3-Thomas Johansson (Sweden) 7-6 (7-5) 4-6 6-3; Fabrice Santoro (France) beat 8-Jiri Novak (Czech Republic) 5-7 6-3 7-6 (7-4)

MEXICAN OPEN:

Semifinals: 5-Carlos Moya (Spain) beat Albert Montanes (Spain) 7-6 (7-2) 6-4; Fernando Meligeni (Brazil) beat Juan Ignacio Chela (Argentina) 6-2 6-4.—Reuters

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