Power of Caring
  presented by CIGNA

Reality check

Seles stops Capriati; Agassi cruises to quarterfinals

Click here for more on this story

Posted: Monday September 06, 1999 11:05 PM

Monica Seles, who was particularly effective in break point opportunities, made quick work of Jennifer Capriati. AP

NEW YORK (AP) -- Serena Williams flexed her rippling muscles as she stepped up to serve the final game against Conchita Martinez, showing the weary Spaniard and everyone else the strength she had left.

Closing out her biggest win in a major tournament at the U.S. Open on Monday, Williams took a moment to peer at Martinez standing far behind the baseline, then promptly served her 12th ace far out of Martinez' reach for a 4-6, 6-2, 6-2 victory.

At 17, Williams had the energy to stay with Martinez through long rallies and three tough sets, to keep going after her no matter how hot and muggy the weather had become.

Jets roared incessantly, the wind blew hot air through the stadium, and the sun burned through the clouds. It was the kind of day that wears down players, distracts them, makes them lightheaded, but Williams didn't let any of that bother her.

Williams, seeded No. 7, played sloppily at times, whacking backhands wildly, missing too many easy shots. But she endured through a combination of persistence and talent and youthful vitality to reach her first major quarterfinal with the victory over No. 16 Martinez.

Now another older champion stands in Williams' way, No. 4 Monica Seles, who won the U.S. Open for the first time in 1991 when she was the same age Williams is today.

Williams isn't intimidated playing anyone -- she's beaten virtually all the top players -- and she's not worried about Seles, whom she's beaten in both their matches.

"I love playing Monica," said Williams, who has served more aces than any woman so far in the tournament. "Whenever we play, it's always very intense and very fun. I don't have anything to lose. She's ranked higher than what I am. It gets me more psyched up and pumped up. I tend to play better. I'm really looking forward to it."

Their matches haven't been so much fun for Seles, who lost to Williams on carpet in Chicago two years ago and on the hardcourt of Key Biscayne this year on Williams' way to the final she lost to sister Venus.

With the Williams sisters both in the quarters here, they're still on track to meet in a final again -- this time for one of the biggest prizes in tennis. But both have stiff competition before that happens.

Seles looked impressive in reaching the quarters with a 6-4, 6-3 victory over Jennifer Capriati.

Against Williams, Seles knows she'll be facing "a lot of hard and fast balls" that will be tough to keep up with.

"She covers more ground than I do at this point, today or tomorrow," Seles said. "From that point of view, she does have the advantage."

That won't be the only hard-hitting match coming up.

Defending champion and No. 2 Lindsay Davenport meets No. 5 Mary Pierce in a quarterfinal duel between two of the biggest sluggers in women's tennis.

Davenport advanced Monday night against Julie Halard-Decugis 6-1, 6-2. Pierce scored a 6-3, 7-6 (8-6) victory over Sabine Appelmans.

In men's play, No. 2 Andre Agassi rolled into the quarters with a 6-4, 6-4, 6-3 victory over Arnaud Clement; No. 3 Yevgeny Kafelnikov downed Andrei Medvedev 7-6 (7-5), 6-1, 6-0; and Frenchman Nicolas Escude became the first men's qualifier in the Open era to reach the quarters when he upset No. 10 Marcelo Rios 6-2, 6-3, 7-5; and No. 12 Richard Krajicek downed Vince Spadea 6-2, 7-6 (7-3), 6-2.

"I felt good about the way I stayed focused from start to finish," Agassi said. "I was making him earn everything he did win out there. I knew in the long run, I'd probably get the better of him."

Agassi next plays Escude, and promises not to take him lightly.

"He has a real good backhand, a sneaky first serve," Agassi said. "He's obviously playing well, but I never would have guessed that he would have won in straight sets here [against Rios]. Three sets today, a day and a half off, he'll be ready all right. I have no intention of making any further dreams come true for him."

 

Related information
Stories
Women's Seeds
Stats
Monday Results
Multimedia
Visit Multimedia Central for the latest audio and video
Search our site	Watch CNN/SI 24 hours a day
	Sports Illustrated and CNN have combined to form a 24 hour sports news and information channel. To receive CNN/SI at your home call your cable operator or DirecTV.