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Wednesday, 3 July, 2002, 20:16 GMT 21:16 UK
Williams powers past Hantuchova
The match was interrupted by rain several times
Serena Williams, decked out in a shimmering tiara, booked her place in the women's semi-finals with a stunning display of power tennis to beat Daniela Hantuchova in straight sets. Come Saturday, she could be swapping that tiara for the Wimbledon crown. In a match twice interrupted by rain, second seed Williams eventually overpowered her Slovakian opponent 6-3 6-2 to set up a semi-final meeting with Amelie Mauresmo.
"It's time to get serious and buckle down," Williams said ominously after the match. Hantuchova pushed Williams all the way, but the American came up with the big plays when she needed them most.
Her serving was particularly impressive, and she hammered down 10 aces in the match. "I've been working really hard on my serve, but I don't think I've served like I can," she said. Hantuchova had a number of break point opportunities in the first set, before Williams broke for 5-3, and then had break back points. "I had a couple of break points and she always hit 110-115 mph first serves," commented Hantuchova. "But I think I had a really great tournament," she added.
After a second rain delay with Williams 3-1 up in the second set, she returned to break again and close out the victory on her second match point. Mauresmo, on current form, will provide another stiff challenge, but a meeting with her sister Venus in Saturday's final is looking all the more likely. But Williams, who is closing in on her sister at the top of the rankings, is taking nothing for granted. "I need to go out there and play my game. I need to focus on what I have to do," she said. On current form, her game is the best in women's tennis. Whether she can unseat Venus from the Wimbledon champion's chair remains to be seen, but she is confident that there is more to come from her. "For me there's always room for improvement," she said. "I haven't got anywhere near my potential."
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