Venus, Davenport, Sharapova Whack Way into Wimbledon Semifinals

The top three seeds, led by world No. 1 Lindsay Davenport and defending champ Maria Sharapova, advanced into the semifinals Tuesday at Wimbledon with straight-set victories that were anything but routine.

Davenport reached her fifth All-England Club semi with a 7-6(1), 6-3 display of baseline bashing versus current US Open holder and No. 5 seed Svetlana Kuznetsova.

"I played a good tiebreak and good second set," said Davenport, prevailing against windy conditions and a serving assault by the Russian. "It seemed like every time I had break point, she aced me."

After four breaks of serve combined in the first set, Davenport dominated the tiebreak then broke early in the second, at the same time breaking the Russian's will in running up a 4-0 lead before closing it out.

In the semis Davenport will face No. 3 seed Amelie Mauresmo, who the American has defeated in their last seven meetings. Mauresmo advanced with a 6-3, 6-4 net-rushing win over No. 9 seed Anastasia Myskina.

"I was very aggressive," Mauresmo said. "I knew I would have more opportunities on her second serve especially. You know, I've really decided to put the pressure on her right from the first game and make her play as many shots as I could -- especially to pass me."

Myskina, who felt she was stronger from the baseline, was not so strong with the passing shots.

"She come a lot to the net," said Myskina who committed 20 unforced errors, her lowest of the tournament. "I think that was good for her because from the baseline, I felt much stronger, and a lot of rallies I won from the baseline. That's the only one thing that she should do is come to the net, and she did really well today."

Sharapova was tested against countrywoman and No. 8 seed Nadia Petrova in a 7-6(6), 6-3 victory, still not dropping a set in the tournament.

Sharapova will now face No. 14 seed Venus Williams in the semifinals after the American survived a late charge from No. 12 seed Mary Pierce 6-0, 7-6(10), with the Frenchwoman failing to capitalize on four sets points.

On tap for Wednesday on the women's side at Wimbledon is doubles-only in Kuznetsova/Mauresmo vs. McShea/Spears (to finish), Douchevina/Peer vs. (8) Groenefeld/M.Navratilova, Aussies (11) Stewart/Stosur vs. (4) Petrova/Shaughnessy, and (7) Hantuchova/Sugiyama vs. (2) Black/Huber.