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Williams girls are there for the taking, says Myskina
Russia's Anastasia Myskina insisted that the American duo have lost the invincibility which once sent shivers down the spines of women on tour.
Anastasia Myskina heaped more misery on the Williams sisters at the French Open on Tuesday and insisted that the American duo have lost the invincibility which once sent shivers down the spines of women on the tour.
Myskina, the Russian sixth seed, knocked Venus out at the quarter-final stage at Roland Garros 6-3, 6-4 while Jennifer Capriati was accounting for sister Serena 6-3, 2-6, 6-3.
Both sisters suffered injury-hit build-ups to the second Grand Slam of the season, and although Myskina believes they may come back stronger at Wimbledon, they can be beaten again.
"They lost a lot of months through injury and the other players kept practising and now all of the girls believe they can fight with them," said the 22-year-old who will be bidding for a first Grand Slam final slot when she meets Capriati in the last four on Thursday.
"There are also players like Kim Clijsters and Justine Henin-Hardenne who always give a good fight and young players like Maria Sharapova. All the girls are really tough now.
"I don't think Venus and Serena are done yet, they are just not at the best level. They will be back because they don't want to lose, they don't like it.
"But we have been practising hard and more and more players are believing they can be beaten.
"They were the best and can be the best again but it's going to be a lot harder for them."
Her quarter-final win also came at a crucial time for Myskina who had never got beyond the second round here in four previous visits.
It also came in her first Grand Slam appearance since the Australian Open where she threw away a 4-0 second set lead in the quarter-finals before losing to Clijsters.
That match had followed a stormy fourth round win against America'a Chanda Rubin where she threw a spectacular temper tantrum at her own coach accusing him of not giving her enough encouragement.
"I have worked on my composure since then," admitted the fiery Russian.
"You have to do that if you want to improve. I don't just want to be number five in the world. I want to move forward, I want to show that I can do better.
"I believe I can beat Jennifer. I just have to keep calm."
A Russian has never won the women's singles title here but this year could represent their best opportunity with Myskina's compatriot Elene Dementieva, the ninth seed, in the other semi-final where she will face Argentina's 14th seed Paola Suarez.
