Thu, Jun 05, 2003 page20

• Agassi out of French Open, Serena seeks revenge

  SEEING REASON The sometimes temperamental player took another loss in his stride, but Serena Williams says she's `on a mission' after her sister lost in the last round

  • AP
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  Andre Agassi has reached the French Open semifinals only once in the past 11 years, so his loss in the quarterfinals wasn't a shock.

  The bigger surprise was that Agassi took the defeat so well.

  

  Martin Verker of the Netherlands falls to the ground after beating No. 4 seed Carlos Moya of Spain in the quarterfinals of the French Open in Paris on Tuesday.

  PHOTO: REUTERS

  The winner of eight Grand Slam titles has long been regarded as a sore loser. He stomped out of Roland Garros without talking to the media after being upset in 2000, and he hit a ball at a lineswoman after losing at Wimbledon the following year.

  

  Argentina's Guillermo Coria reacts after defeating Andre Agassi of the US in the quarterfinals of the French Open at Roland Garros stadium in Paris on Tuesday.

  PHOTO: AP

  But Agassi took defeat graciously Tuesday, when seventh-seeded Guillermo Coria of Argentina outplayed him 4-6, 6-3, 6-2, 6-4.

  "It's disappointing from a standpoint of not being able to win," Agassi said. "But some losses are easier to swallow based on what you feel you did or didn't do. ... He played the bigger points well and executed better. He deserved to win."

  Coria won thanks to better groundstrokes, better tactics and superior speed. He took the lead in every set and showed plenty of poise at the finish.

  When Agassi sailed a forehand out on match point, Coria briefly fell to his knees, then ran to the net. He put his arm around Agassi, the player he idolized growing up in Argentina, before burying his head on the net cord.

  "He's right up there with the best clay-courters," Agassi said. "Today he really was hitting a good variety of shots and executing real well."

  In a matchup of two first-time Grand Slam semifinalists Friday, Coria will play unseeded Martin Verkerk of the Netherlands. The Dutchman hit 27 aces to upset 1998 champion Carlos Moya of Spain 6-3, 6-4, 5-7, 4-6, 8-6.

  "I don't know how it happened," Verkerk said. "I'm not realizing it maybe yet."

  The women's semifinalists at the French Open include a Russian, two Belgians and Serena Williams, who's simply out of this world.

  With an intimidating glare and strokes to match, Williams notched her 33rd consecutive Grand Slam victory Tuesday, beating Frenchwoman Amelie Mauresmo 6-1, 6-2.

  It was a deflating rout for French fans -- and for the rest of the women's tour, which Williams has dominated since winning the Roland Garros title a year ago. She's two victories from a fifth successive Grand Slam title.

  "She played an unbelievable match," said Justine Henin-Hardenne, who faces Williams in the semifinals today. The Belgian beat Chanda Rubin 6-3, 6-2 and is projected to overtake Venus Williams for the No. 3 spot in next week's rankings.

  Another Belgian, No. 2 Kim Clijsters, also advanced and will next play unseeded Nadia Petrova, the first female Russian semifinalist at the French Open in 28 years.

  Clijsters ended Conchita Martinez's 16th French Open 6-2, 6-1. Petrova won a pivotal 49-shot rally to edge compatriot Vera Zvonareva 6-1, 4-6, 6-3.

  Williams began her match with an uncharacteristically stern expression, and she didn't crack a smile until after the final point. Playing on center court at Roland Garros against a Paris native who had won their most recent meeting, Williams was eager to be at her best.

  "It's difficult when you're playing a player who the crowd loves so much and who does so much for the country, and you're playing her in her country," Williams said. "Then it's like you have to put yourself in a bubble and pretend as if nothing's around."

  Also contributing to her stern demeanor: The match was her first since her sister was upset in the fourth round, preventing a fifth consecutive all-Williams Grand Slam final.

  "I'm on a mission," Serena said. "I plan on reaching it."

  She raced to a 4-0 lead, winning 16 of the first 19 points. After Mauresmo made it 4-1, Williams won six games in a row and again led 4-0.
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