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February 19, 2005
Williams, Mauresmo Reach Final in Antwerp
ANTWERP, Belgium - Venus Williams stands one match away from claiming her
third career title at the Proximus Diamond Games in Antwerp.
The American improved to a perfect 11-0 at the Belgian indoor event after
grabbing a 63 36 63 victory on Saturday against No.2 seed Anastasia Myskina.
Myskina attempted to change the pace of her shots on multiple occasions to
throw Williams off and had a break point for a 3-2 lead in the final set, but
couldn't convert. Instead, Williams got the lone break of the final set in
the eighth game and served out the match.
"I had a tough time out there tonight," Williams said. "I started off
unbelievably, up 4-0 in eight minutes then I lost a little focus and once
Anastasia came back into the match, it was tough to shake her off.
"I am really hungry to win - not just for the diamond racquet, but to do it
for myself."
Williams will next face top seed Amelie Mauresmo, a 63 76(2) winner against
No.4 seed Alicia Molik. This is the first time Williams has played in an
indoor final since in win in Antwerp in 2003.
Williams has won titles in both of her previous two trips to Antwerp, in 2002
and 2003. The former World No.1 hasn't had a very easy path to the final,
having to also defeat unseeded Kim Clijsters just to reach the semifinals.
Venus will now attempt to end an 11-tournament drought without a title, which
happens to be the longest of her career.
Meanwhile, Mauresmo reached a Tour final for the second week in a row after
her straight sets win against Molik. The Frenchwoman, who was upset in the
Paris [Indoors] final last Sunday against Dinara Safina, has dropped just one
set this week in her path to the championship match.
"I'm very content with the way I played today," Mauresmo said. "It was a big
improvement over the other day when I really didn't play well at all. I knew
I had to step it up today as Alicia's a very dangerous player indoors. I
served really well and I think that surprised her and made her try to do too
much with her own serve.
"I'm pleased to be in the final here, it's a great event and I wouldn't mind
a closer look at the magnificent trophy."
Mauresmo has now reached seven finals in the last eight indoor events she's
played, dating back to Philadelphia in 2003.
Williams and Mauresmo will face one another for the eighth time in their
respective careers on Sunday, with the American holding a 5-2 lead in their
previous meetings. This will also be the third time in three years they've
met in a Tour final. Mauresmo defeated Williams in the final at Warsaw in
2003 when the American retired early in the first set after an injury to her
left abdominal.
Then, injury struck Williams again last year prior to facing the Frenchwoman
in the championship match at Berlin. After suffering a left ankle sprain in a
semifinal victory, Williams was unable to compete in the final - handing
Mauresmo the title by walkover.
Williams' last victory against Mauresmo was in 2002 in the semifinals of the
US Open. Williams does hold a victory against Mauresmo at Antwerp, winning a
semifinal battle back in 2002 en route to the first of her two titles at the
event.
"I've played Mauresmo a few times in the past, she got the better of me the
last time we played in Philadelphia, but my level then was no where near what
it is now."
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