Capriati teaches Angelique tennis lesson

Capriati teaches Angelique tennis lesson

Agencies, Hong Kong

World number two Jennifer Capriati blasted past rising Indonesian star Angelique Widjaja, to take her place in the semifinals of the Hong Kong Ladies Challenge on Thursday.

Capriati, the French and Australian Open champion, proved far too strong for the talented 17-year-old 2001 junior Wimbledon champion, speeding to a 6-0, 6-1 win in just 34 minutes.

The American saved three break points in the opening game and that was as good as it got for Angelique as Capriati blitzed the young Indonesian with a devastating display of power tennis to sweep through the opening set in just 15 minutes.

Capriati also had kind words for her young opponent, who claimed her first WTA title in her first tournament in Bali last season.

"Angelique is very talented. She's got a lot of potential. I think I just played really well tonight. Hopefully it was a good experience for her too."

Angelique said: "She's good and I think that she's very consistent. It's very tough to play against her. It's OK to lose. I played not bad today."

She added that there was a huge difference playing junior tennis and the muscular Capriati, adding she could learn from the American's "mental (strength), technique and tactics."

In Auckland, New Zealand, a tired but determined Anna Kournikova came from a set and 4-1 down Thursday to beat Swiss Emmanuelle Gagliardi and reach the semifinals of the ASB Bank Classic women's tennis tournament.

Kournikova, ranked 74 in the world, overcame searing heat and a lack of tough in recent matches to beat 69th-ranked and unseeded Gagliardi 2-6, 6-4, 7-5. She will face Israel's Anna Smashnova in Friday's semifinals.

There were moments, particularly on service, when Kournikova seemed to be favoring her previously injured left foot, though she covered the court with reasonable freedom.

Kournikova saw her world ranking plummet from eight last year when she spent eight months off the circuit with a stress fracture but said she was not troubled by the injury during the game but had to dig deep to overcome her spirited Swiss opponent.

In Adelaide, Australia, Mark Philippoussis, who has lost 10 kilograms (22 pounds), appears to be missing none of his power after beating fifth seed Sjeng Schalken of the Netherlands at the Australian hardcourt tennis championships.

Philippoussis breezed through the first set 6-0, then took the second 6-3 in only slightly less dominant style, winning eight of the last nine points to close out the match at Memorial Drive.

Ranked 106th after an enforced absence for knee surgery, Philippoussis said he felt confident and well-prepared for the rest of the Australian season after working with fitness coach Brett Stephens to strengthen his legs and lose weight.

"I put in the work before I got here and that's the difference, when you have worked hard and when you have put in the hours, you know you're going to play well," he said.