By Glyn James
November 11 2002

Venus Williams has controversially withdrawn from the LA Championships, thus gifting Clijsters a final position. Elsewhere, Serena defeated an injury prone Jeniffer Capriati. In what has become a familiar situation on the WTA tour over recent years, a Williams sister has pulled out of a tournament prior to facing her sister. This time it was Venus' turn to pull out. This makes 4 withdrawals in the last 5 previous years at the season ending championships, and it left tournament directors red in the face, and some fans rather unhappy for not getting their money's worth.
Venus' injury was officialy explained as a 'lower leg strain.' Make of it what you will.
Venus' injury forced her to withdraw at 5-0 down in the first set.

In the other semi final, Serena over powered fellow American Jennifer Capriati with a tight 2-6, 6-4, 6-4 scoreline. With the pair tied at a set all, Serena was the favourite to go on and win the match, but Capriati is renouned for her impressive second wind, so it really could have gone either way.

With the tide constantly swinging, Serena took a 4-3 lead. Capriati served strong enough in the following game, but Serena got two lucky breaks with the net chord on important points (like in the Dokic match). The first gave Capriati no chance, but the second bounced a little higher and Capriati capitalised and hit a winner. Capriati reaction was one not to be missed. She ran towards the net and hit it with some furious anger with her racquet. Serena raised her game for the following two games and dropped just three points as she ran out a 6-4 win in the final set.

"It's pretty unusual for so many net cords to go one way in a match," said Capriati.

A relieved Serena said, "Our intensity levels were so high, she returned very well and hit some amazing shots."

The situation sparked rememberences of Indian Wells 2001, where Venus was booed after withdrawing, and Serena was booed after beating Clijsters in the final. Let's see how the tournament directors go about handling this one.