Top seeds progress in Dubai

Williams was too powerful for Kournikova

Click here for Wednesday's results from Dubai

Top seeds Venus Williams and Monica Seles have both reached the quarter-finals of the Dubai Open.

Williams beat the unseeded Anna Kournikova 6-2 7-6 (6-3), while number two seed Seles defeated Italy's Tathiana Garbin 6-2 6-3.

Their victories mean the pair remain on course to meet in the tournament's final at the weekend.

It was a tough match

Venus Williams

The 21-year-old comfortably took the first set against Kournikova, but the Russian rallied to make the second set much more of a contest.

Seles victory over Garbin was a more straight-forward affair, with the Italian unable to match her more illustrious opponent's powerful baseline game.

Wiliams is looking forward to being crowned world number one for the first time in her career.

The WTA confirmed she will overtake Jennifer Capriati, who is not in action this week, in the rankings on Monday.

"It is a good feeling to know that next week I'll be number one, but it's about this week right now and finishing strong on my first part of the year," Williams told reporters after her victory.

Seles is on course to meet Wlliams in the final

"I missed quite a few returns, and a lot of times I didn't do what I wanted to do, especially with my serve.

"If I'd have got some more first serves in it would have made it a lot easier. That's something I need to work on."

Although defeated, Kournikova showed signs of rediscovering her best form after an injury plagued 2001.

"If you miss eight months I think it takes pretty much the same time to get back, hopefully not longer," said Kournikova.

"My goal is to get back to where I was before my injury, and I have nothing (ranking points) to defend so that's a plus."

France's Amelie Mauresmo joins Williams in the quarter-finals after beating Emmanuelle Gagliardi.

The number three seed disposed of her Swiss opponent with ease, triumphing 6-3 6-2.

Spanish number seven seed Angeles Montolio also progressed with a comfortable 6-3 6-2 win over Janette Husarova.

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Wednesday's second round results from the Dubai Open

Amelie Mauresmo (Fra,3) beat Emmanuelle Gagliardi (Swi) 6-3 6-2
Venus Williams (USA,1) beat Anna Kournikova (Rus) 6-2 7-6 (7-3)
Tina Pisnik (Slo) beat Barbara Rittner (Ger) 7-5 6-4
Angeles Montolio (Spa,7) beat Janette Husarova (Svk) 6-3 6-2
Tamarine Tanasugarn (Tha) beat Tatiana Panova (Rus) 6-2 6-3
Anastasia Myskina (Rus) bt Jelena Kostanic (Cro) 6-3 6-2
Monica Seles (USA, 2) bt Tathiana Garbin (Ita) 6-2 6-3

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