Davenport relives the past with another Wimbledon semi-final

By Bill Scott Jun 28, 2005, 19:38 GMT

London - Lindsay Davenport, who was ready to retire from tennis a year ago, stretched her career turnaround with a quarter-final win over Grand Slam champion Svetlana Kuznetsova 7-6 (7-1), 6-3 Tuesday at the 18.5-million-dollar Wimbledon Championships.

The 28-year-old set up a Thursday match against France's third-seeded Amelie Mauresmo, who beat another Russian in 2004 French Open winner Anastasia Myskina 6-3, 6-4.

Singles play concluded in double-quick time as afternoon sun turned to clouds with showers a possibility. But officials had to be congratulating themselves with all of the big matches out of the way more than four hours before sunset.

Defending champion Maria Sharapova, one of four Russians in the last eight, overcame compatriot Nadia Petrova 7-6 (8-6), 6-3.

Venus Williams, the number 14, had it easy in a quick first set but had to fight through the 68-minute second to beat French Open finalist Mary Pierce 6-0, 7-6 (12-10).

World number one Davenport moved into a fifth career semi-final at the event she won in 1999.

But the Californian feels her game has progressed well beyond the form which took her to three Grand Slam titles in 1998-2000.

"I feel like I'm overall a better player," she said. "The game is so much better now than it was in the mid to late '90s that I think I've done a good job staying with all the improvements and being able to improve my game."

Mauresmo reached her third Wimbledon semi-final in as many attempts.

"I really wanted to be aggressive and I was - from the first point to the end," said Mauresmo, who feels none of the pressure which has inhibited her at home during the French Open.

"I'm very happy to go through again. Hopefully, I can take another step in the next match," Mauresmo said after compiling a 6-1 record over 2004 French Open champion Myskina.

"You have to really mix it up, both come in but also stay back," she said of shot selection. "Sometimes it's tough to come in. You really have to choose the right ball."

Sharapova, 18, and crowding Davenport for the top ranking, said her attitude has changed since her title breakthrough in 2004 on the lawns.

"Last year I was just thrilled to be in the semi-finals, while this year I'm expecting myself to be in the second week," she said. "I'm still thrilled, of course."

The teenager came into the match with 21 consecutive match wins on grass and had conceded only 17 games en route to the last eight.

"I feel like I'm a much more experienced player this year," said the second seed. "In certain situations last year I would have pushed for my shots.

"This year I feel like I've been in this situation before and I feel like I know what to do. I'm also expecting myself to know what to do in these certain situations."

Williams couldn't hide her joy at her best Wimbledon showing since playing a final against sister Serena in 2003. The 25-year-old owns four Grand Slam titles - with the last two taken in 2001.

"It was a tough tiebreak and a tough second set," she said of the struggle against Pierce. "I played really well in the first set. I think she played well, too, but maybe she just wasn't expecting me to play as well as I did.

"I had quite a few set points against me. To pull that out and not have to go to the third is really good."