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Serena too strong Williams overpowers Pitkowski 6-1, 6-1
Posted: Friday February 11, 2000 04:44 PM
PARIS (AP) -- Serena Williams rolled over Sarah Pitkowski from France 6-1, 6-1 in 52 minutes at the US$ 537,000 Paris Open on Friday to secure a semifinal berth in the tournament where she opened her career victory account last year. For the 18-year-old American top-seed and titleholder, it's two down and two to go. The world No. 4 hit too heavily, moved too well, and thought too quickly for the tenacious Frenchwoman who was coming off an upset victory over fifth seed and defeated 1999 finalist Amelie Mauresmo. Williams captured her serve to love, the fifth time she had broken the Frenchwoman in the match, clinching victory with a crisp backhand volley. Thursday, Pitkowski had jokingly predicted a French win. Williams did not appreciate the throwaway humor. "I guess I read what she said and it got me motivated," Williams admitted. Williams now meets third seeded Frenchwoman Julie Halard-Decugis in Saturday's semi-final. The American holds a 2-0 edge in career wins. "But our last matchup in L.A. was pretty good. And Julie wants to win here. What French player doesn't want to win in Paris?" Williams said. Even a semifinal defeat would not alter William's current world No. 4 ranking. Last year Williams cut a swath through French tennis, beating four home players on her way to her first career title. This year she is gaining fans by speaking French in her courtside interviews. "The public likes that a lot," Williams said. "Venus knows more words than me but I pick up quicker what people say. We make a great team." Questioned on the back injury which troubled her two months ago, Williams brushed the problem aside. "I had a little recurrence in Australia but now it's fine." Third seed Halard-Decugis swept aside her compatriot Nathalie Dechey 6-2, 6-4 in 66 minutes to gain a semi-final crack at Williams. "I've got nothing to lose," Halard-Decugis said. "Last year I lost to her here and played disappointing tennis. It's up to me to make a better fight of it this time." Anna Kournikova, a star still looking for her first Tour title, moved into the semifinals with a 4-6, 6-4, 6-2 win over Romania's Irina Spirlea. The Russian fourth seed won because of her greater mobility and attacking flair in coming forward to clinch points at the net and wrap up a 4-6, 6-4, 6-2 victory. Her win Friday will carry her to at least ninth in next week's world rankings, the highest showing of her career. Kournikova now meets second seed and tour veteran Nathalie Tauziat who beat Anne-Gaelle Sidot 7-5, 6-1, on Friday.
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