Mauresmo, Sharapova Into Doha Semifinals

Posted on February 25, 2005

Top-seeded Amelie Mauresmo breezed into the WTA Doha semifinals Thursday (d. Kirilenko), setting up a meeting with No. 4-seeded Aussie Alicia Molik (d. Schiavone 7-6 in the third).

"I am very happy that I am playing well here in Doha," Mauresmo said. "I hope I can do as well in the semifinal. I am playing good tennis right now."

No. 2 seed Maria Sharapova (d. Bartoli) set up a semifinal meeting with unseeded Daniela Hantuchova (d. Martinez), who weathered a three-hour rain delay.

"I stayed calm during the break and I was able to stay focused when play resumed," Hantuchova said.

On tap for Friday are Mauresmo vs. Molik (Frenchwoman leads career meetings 3-1, including a win last week in Antwerp), and Hantuchova vs. Sharapova (the Russian gruntstress leads 2-1, with all three meetings in 2004).