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Williams, Capriati set up quarterfinal match
Jennifer Capriati set up a quaterfinal match against Serena Williams with a victory over Nadia Petrova at Wimbledon today.
Two-time defending champion Serena Williams served 12 aces - including one clocked at a Wimbledon women's record of 126 mph (203 kph) - and overwhelmed 16-year-old Tatiana Golovin 6-2, 6-1 on Tuesday to advance to the Wimbledon quarterfinals.
Williams crushed the Russian-born French player in 55 minutes on Centre Court to set up a marquee quarterfinal Grand Slam rematch against Jennifer Capriati.
Capriati, who defeated Nadia Petrova 6-4, 6-4 in another fourth-round match, beat Williams in the quarterfinals of the French Open last month. Now they'll meet in the Wimbledon quarters for the third time in four years.
"I think we definitely have a nice rivalry going on," Williams said. "It's good, I like it."
In the bottom half of the draw, Lindsay Davenport became the first player to reach the semifinals as she swept 19-year-old Karolina Sprem 6-2, 6-2, in 51 minutes.
Davenport, the 1999 champion, reached the semis for the fourth time. Sprem, a Croat who upset former two-time champion Venus Williams in the second round, had 21 unforced errors - 13 more than Davenport.
The fifth-seeded Davenport will face either Maria Sharapova or Ai Sugiyama in the semis.
Also advancing to the quarters in the top half was Amelie Mauresmo, who beat Silvia Farina Elia 7-5, 6-3. The fourth-seeded Frenchwoman, who reached the semifinals in 2002, served eight aces and had 29 winners to beat the Italian in 1 hour, 27 minutes on Court 2.
Mauresmo will next play Paola Suarez, who downed Rita Grande, 4-6, 6-0, 6-2 to reach her first Wimbledon quarterfinal. Suarez lost in the French Open semis last month to Elena Dementieva.
Serena Williams and Capriati have played 15 times, with Williams leading 9-6. Capriati has won the last two, both on clay, including a three-setter at the French Open. At Wimbledon, Capriati won in three sets in the 2001 quarterfinals and Williams prevailed in three sets in the 2003 quarters.
"We always end up in the same side of the draw, playing each other and having good matches," Capriati said. "She respects my game, I respect hers. We're not best of friends, but we're not enemies either."
The top-seeded Williams, who hasn't lost more than four games in any of her matches so far, wasn't happy with her performance Tuesday, but added: "I guess I can't complain too much, huh?" Golovin, considered one of the most promising young players on the tour, appeared completely outmatched in her first appearance on the biggest stage in the sport.
Williams hit clean winners from the baseline, but was particularly dominant on her serve. She served three aces in three different games and finished off the fifth game of the second set with her 126 mph (203 kph) ace down the middle. As she walked to her chair for the changeover, Williams held up her arms in triumph and smiled at her parents in the players' box.
"I was really excited," she said. "I was like, `Whoa!' " The serve broke her sister Venus' Wimbledon record of 125 mph (201 kph), set in 1998. It fell just short of the fastest ever recorded serve in women's tennis - a 127 mph (204 kph) delivery by Venus, at a tournament in Zurich, Switzerland, in 1998. Serena's previous best was 121 mph (195 kph).
"I'm feeling like Pete Sampras," she said.
After Williams won the first set in 27 minutes, taking 12 of the last 15 points, Golovin broke in the opening game of the second. But Williams broke right back and won the next six games - including 15 out of 16 points and 19 out of 21 at one stretch - to close out the match.
After Golovin hit a backhand return long on the third match point, Williams twirled and blew kisses to the crowd. She finished with 23 winners and only 13 errors.
Golovin had more errors (13) than winners (8) and served four double faults.
Despite the one-sided result, Golovin described it as an "amazing" experience.
"I felt really good out there," she said. "I don't think I played that bad. I could play with her. Just a few more points and the score would be tighter."
Capriati, meanwhile, needed eight break points to go ahead 3-2 in the first set, finally converting when Petrova hit a forehand into the net. At 4-all, Capriati broke again. Serving at 5-4, she double-faulted twice but managed to hold, closing out with a forehand winner that clipped the net cord.
Capriati led throughout the second set after breaking in the opening game. She again served it out, and Petrova hit a forehand wide on the first match point.
