By Chris Davies
April 9 2004

Serena Williams and Venus Williams battled their way through to the fourth round has Jennifer Capriati's disappointing season countined in Nasdaq 100 Open, Miami The top seed who has only just returned after a nine month lay off claimed the first set 6-1 but was far from her best. Williams first serve only managed a staggering 27% and was broken by Likhovtseva which was the Russians only game in the set.

Likhovtseva had beaten the former world number one before but that was 3 years ago at the Australian Open and looked has if she was not going to repeat that performance today.

But the second set saw a dramatic turn for the Russian as at 4-4 she managed to break the Williams serve for a chance to win the set and take it into a decider. That she managed to do claiming the second set 6-4.

But the third set was straight forward but still difficult for the two time defending champion to close out. Serena stormed to a 4-1 lead and held match point at 5-3 but probably due to her long absence from the game found it hard to close out the match.

Next for the top seed is 17th seed Maria Sharapova who ousted 13th seed Anna Smashnova-Pistolesi in straight sets.

There was more good news for the Williams family comeback tour as Venus Williams overcame a feisty Daniela Hantuchova. The Slovakian pushed the second seed all the way in the first set to force a tie-break but was completely outplayed losing all 7 points then lost the second set 6-2.
Former world number one Jennifer Capriati who has been struggling with a back injury this season was totally outplayed against 25th seed Eleni Daniilidou in straight sets.

Last years runner-up was demolished in all areas of her game and lacked the aggressive motivated mood she always carries with her game. With this being the last tournament on hardcourts until the American hardcourt season she will now have to focus on clay to restore some pride in her flagging season.


Third Round Results

(1) Serena Williams (USA) bt (31) Elena Likhovtseva (Rus)
6-1, 4-6, 6-3

(3) Gisela Dulko (Arg) bt Vera Douchevina (Rus)
7-6 (7-4), 6-4

Jill Craybas (USA) bt (7) Vera Zvonareva (Rus)
6-2, 3-6, 6-3

(8) Nadia Petrova (Rus) bt (32) Emilie Loit (Fra) 6-1, 6-3

(15) Francesca Schiavone (Ita) bt (20) Lisa Raymond (USA)
6-3, 6-4

(24) Alicia Molik (Aus) bt (11) Silvia Farina Elia (Ita)
6-3, 6-7 (5-7), 6-4

(10) Svetlana Kuznetsova (Rus) bt Aniko Kapros (Hun)
2-6, 7-6 (7-4), 6-3

(21) Nathalie Dechy (Fra) bt Shenay Perry (USA)
6-2, 6-2

(29) Karolina Sprem (Cro) bt Maria Vento-Kabchi (Ven)
4-6, 6-3, 6-0

Tatiana Golovin (Fra) bt Jelena Jankovic (Ser)
6-7 (4-7), 6-1, 7-5

(25) Eleni Daniilidou (Gre) bt (4) Jennifer Capriati (USA)
6-2, 6-4

(17) Maria Sharapova (Rus) bt (13) Anna Smashnova-Pistolesi (Isr)
7-5, 6-2

(5) Elena Dementieva (Rus) bt (26) Maria Antonia Sanchez-Lorenzo (Spa)
6-4, 6-3

(9) Paola Suarez (Arg) bt (18) Magui Serna (Spa) 6-4, 6-2

(12) Jelena Dokic (Ser) bt Kristina Brandi (Pue) 7-5, 6-4

(2) Venus Williams (USA) bt (27) Daniela Hantuchova (Svk)
7-6 (7-0), 6-2