Serena Sets Up Sister Semifinal

Little sister takes another crack at Venus Williams today, this time with lower stakes and less hype but lots of incentive.

Serena Williams, who has beaten her older sister only once in six meetings, will try again in the semifinals of the Nasdaq-100 Open.

Their most recent showdown came in the U.S. Open in September, when Venus won the first Grand Slam final between siblings in 117 years. From the New York spotlight the rivalry moves to the Sunshine State, with Serena eager to beat Venus--but not desperate.

“I’m not looking for an unfair advantage,” Serena said, laughing. “We have connecting rooms, but if I see her it’s not like I’ll try to bump her, or hit her, or maybe put a pillow over her in the middle of the night.”

Serena, seeded eighth, has been the more impressive Williams en route to the semifinals. On Wednesday, she routed two-time champion Martina Hingis, 6-4, 6-0.

But Venus, seeded second, has won 22 consecutive matches on Key Biscayne. She missed the 2000 tournament because of injury but won titles in 1998, 1999 and 2001.

Serena’s best finish came three years ago, when she was runner-up to Venus.

“Hey, one of us is going to be in the final again,” Serena said. “So that’s a guarantee.”

Their father and coach, Richard, complained that the tournament cheated itself by putting Venus and Serena in the same half of the draw, preventing the sisters from meeting in the final.

The elder Williams also suggested a new name for the WTA Tour.

“I think it’s the Williams Tennis Association,” he said.

Hoping to prove otherwise is No. 1-seeded Jennifer Capriati, who earned a semifinal berth by beating Tatiana Panova, 6-2, 6-0. Tonight Capriati will play No. 5 Monica Seles, who advanced by defeating No. 4 Kim Clijsters, 4-6, 6-3, 6-3.

Four-time champion No. 9 Andre Agassi became the first men’s semifinalist, beating No. 20 Nicolas Lapentti, 6-3, 7-5. On Friday, Agassi will play 1998 champion Marcelo Rios, who swept Juan Ignacio Chela, 7-6 (0), 6-2.

Top-seeded Lleyton Hewitt needed only 10 minutes to win three games and complete a rain-interrupted fourth-round victory over American James Blake, 6-4, 6-1.

Hewitt’s opponent in the quarterfinals today will be No. 6 Marat Safin, who beat qualifier Fernando Gonzalez, 6-3, 6-3.