Number one seed Jennifer Capriati remains on course to retain her Australian Open title after she secured her place in the semi-finals with a 6-2 6-2 victory over Amelie Mauresmo. The American got off to the best possible start when she broke Mauresmo's serve in the opening game and continued to dominate for the remainder of the match as the Frenchwoman made a total of 34 unforced errors.
Capriati will now meet Kim Clijsters in the last four after the Belgian number four seed beat fellow countrywoman Justine Henin 6-2 6-3 in their quarter-final clash. The other semi-final sees Swiss third seed Martina Hingis take on American eighth seed Monica Seles.
Afterwards, Capriati was thrilled with the result and how she coped against Mauresmo. "I've got a lot to be happy for. This is where it all counts - how you do in a Grand Slam and where I try to bring my best tennis. I do try to bring it everywhere, but this is where it counts the most. It's getting down to the second week and it's getting down to the moment where the best players are really going to bring their best games, so I'm glad I could raise my game to that level. I had to be really steady and determined today and hope that this would be the start of the best things in the next coming matches."
Filed by Amanda Fennelly
