Capriati closes on top spot

Jennifer Capriati wants her number one ranking back

 Quarter-final results from Berlin

Jennifer Capriati moved closer to regaining the world number one ranking with a three-set win over Sandrine Testud at the German Open.

The American needs to win the tournament to regain the top ranking, and a 6-3 5-7 6-4 victory took her into the semi-finals.

Capriati led 5-1 in the final set but needed four match points before finally ending Testud's challenge.

"I played consistently well, I wasn't unhappy with any part of my game," said Capriati, who was denied the number one ranking for 2001 when she was upset by Testud at the year-ending WTA Championships.

The 26-year-old American said she was looking forward to defending her French Open title and was not feeling the pressure of going for her fourth grand slam title in two years.

"I'm going to try and do it again," she said.

Henin was scarcely troubled by Natalie Dechy

"I don't know if people expect me to win back-to-backs, but I'm not putting pressure on myself. There's too many good players out there."

Capriati will face eighth-ranked Justine Henin of Belgium who eased past unseeded Frenchwoman Nathalie Dechy 6-0 6-4.

Serena Williams made the last four without hitting a ball as defending champion Amelie Mauresmo was forced to withdraw ahead of their quarter-final with a neck injury.

"I woke up this morning and my neck felt stiff," said the Frenchwoman. "I couldn't turn my head. I tried to train but I just can't play."

Mauresmo is hopeful that she will recover in time for next week's tournament in Rome as she looks to get more claycourt time ahead of the French Open, which begins on 27 May.

Williams is closing in on a first ever claycourt title but expects a tough test in the semi-final, where she will take on Israeli surprise package Anna Smashnova.

Smashnova followed up her second-round win over Kim Clijsters with a defeat of 11th seed Daniela Hantuchova.

"It's not going to be easy," Williams said. "If you think it's easy, you lose track of everything.

"I would have preferred to play today. I'll do a little practice and then I'll relax. I've done all the tourist things already."

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German Open quarter-final results:
(Seedings in bold)

5 J Henin (Bel) bt N Dechy (Fra) 6-0 6-4
A Smashnova (Isr) bt 11 D Hantuchova (Svk) 1-6 6-2 6-3
1 J Capriati (US) bt 8 S Testud (France) 6-3 5-7 6-4
4 S Williams (US) bt 7 A Mauresmo (Fra) walkover

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