Sharapova Handles Venus in First Meeting at WTA Zurich

Upon returning from a long layoff with an abdominal injury earlier in 2004, Venus Williams has found herself lapped by many of the young comers on the WTA Tour.

Case in point was Friday at the WTA stop in Zurich, where the elder Williams sister was handled easily in straight sets 6-3, 6-4 in her first meeting with reigning Wimbledon champion and cell phone spokeswoman Maria Sharapova.

"I was able to pick up my game when I needed to and force her to make some unforced errors," Sharapova said. "I thought I was dictating the match throughout and I'm definitely playing with a lot of confidence."

It was a typical big-hitting baseline display lacking variation and filled with unforced errors and slaughterhouse shrieks during rallies from both players. After the match, it was the typical Williams press conference.

"I just had a slow start today," Williams said. "I definitely feel I'm not at my best yet but it's just the little things that I still have to work on."

Also into the semifinals Friday was another Russian in (3) Elena Dementieva (d. (9) Sugiyama 7-5 in the third), along with homecountry hero (10) Patty Schnyder (d. Suarez in three), and unseeded Aussie bright light Alicia Molik (d. (8) Petrova, dropping only four games).

Saturday's semifinal match-ups are (3) Elena "Sharapova's Not Russian" Dementieva vs. (4) Sharapova (the cell phone mannequin leads career meetings 2-1), and (10) Schnyder vs. Molik (Swiss leads 1-0 with a win five years ago).

The doubles semifinals are Dechy/Golovin vs. Black/Stubbs, and Ruano Pascual/Suarez vs. Husarova/Molik.