From the start, Serena Williams had third-seeded Belgian Kim Clijsters on the defensive, sliding into the splits at the baseline in vain attempts to retrieve overpowering shots.
The maneuver made Clijsters look like a cheerleader, and in the end all she could do was join the applause for Williams. The world's No. 1 player advanced to the final of the Nasdaq-100 Open and remained unbeaten this year by winning 6-4, 6-2 on Thursday.
Williams' opponent today will be the winner of the all-American semifinal between No. 6-seeded Jennifer Capriati and No. 12 Chanda Rubin. Rain forced the postponement of that match until yesterday.
Williams defeated Capriati in last year's final.
``If I'm playing my best tennis, I don't think anyone right now can beat me,'' Williams said.
Earlier this year, Clijsters led Williams 5-1 in the third set of their semifinal at the Australian Open before losing, but this time she failed to muster much of a challenge.
Williams' performance underscored a discouraging reality for the rest of the WTA Tour: She can play less than her best and still drub a top opponent like Clijsters. Williams exceeded her norm with 37 unforced errors, including a handful of wild shots, and lost one point when she stumbled and fell to the hard court face first.
``I'm not too happy with the way I played,'' she said. ``My serve wasn't there at all. My returns were miserable.
"I don't think I made too many of my shots, but I figured if I could just make a few of them, then I would be all right.''
Men's Draw
Roger Federer and Albert Costa were to return to the court briefly yesterday for the climax of their Nasdaq-100 Open quarterfinal held up by south Florida thunderstorms on Thursday.
Ninth seed Costa saved two match points at 5-4 down in the final set as the wind blew up and black clouds loomed menacingly over Key Biscayne's Stadium Court.
A double fault by the Swiss fourth seed allowed Costa to break back to 5-5, and the heavens opened two games later as Federer, last year's runner-up, was about to serve at deuce.
The match was to resume as of press time, with Spaniard Costa leading 7-6, 4-6, 6-5.
The match was to be followed by the quarterfinal between Younes El Aynaoui, the 19th seed from Morocco, and Andre Agassi, the defending champion seeking a record third successive title and sixth overall here in the US$3.25 million hardcourt event.
In the night session on Friday, starting at 1900 local time, fifth seed Carlos Moya of Spain and 13th seed Paradorn Srichaphan of Thailand meet in the first semi-final.
The final will be tomorrow morning, weather permitting.
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