Clijsters, Mauresmo Gear Towards Final at WTA Antwerp

Top-seeded and world No. 1 Kim Clijsters and No. 2 seed Amelie Mauresmo advanced to within a win each of a rematch of their Australian Open semifinal where the Belgian retired with an ankle injury, Friday moving into the semifinals at the WTA stop in Antwerp.

Clijsters advanced with a tough 7-6(1), 6-4 win over unseeded Russian Dinara Safina, while Mauresmo had an easier time with a 6-2, 6-4 win over flu-ravaged No. 6 seed Patty Schnyder.

"I started off better tonight than in the first match," said Clijsters who jumped out to a 3-0 lead in the first set. "I had three really good games, but then I couldn't keep it going. I'm still not consistent enough, and I haven't been getting enough first serves in. I'm still suffering from a bit of a cold, which hasn't helped."

Also making for a competitive semifinals are (4) Nadia Petrova (d. Savchuk) and (5) Elena Dementieva (d. Daniilidou), both advancing in straight sets.

Saturday's semifinal match-ups are (1) Clijsters vs. (5) Dementieva (Belgian leads career meetings 8-2), and (2) Mauresmo vs. (4) Petrova (Mauresmo leads 3-1).