Serena, Clijsters win, set up a semifinal showdown

MELBOURNE, Australia -- Serena Williams moved two wins away from the "Serena Slam."

Standing in her way is Kim Clijsters, the last player to beat Williams or her sister Venus.

Serena Williams reached the Australian Open semifinals with a 6-2, 6-2 victory Wednesday over Meghann Shaughnessy, whose drop shot led to the twisted ankle that kept Williams out of last year's tournament.

"I'm definitely thrilled to get to the semifinal. It's my first in Australia," said Serena, who hit eight aces, served at up to 121 mph and lost only 10 points on her serve.

Williams went on to beat her sister for the title in the year's three remaining Grand Slam tournaments.

Clijsters, who beat both Williams sisters to win the WTA Tour Championship last November, advanced with a 6-2, 6-4 victory over Anastasia Myskina. The 19-year-old Belgian now has lost only 16 games in 10 sets.

Williams had trouble only in finishing the 65-minute match. Shaughnessy saved one match point in the six-deuce seventh game of the second set, and two more in the last game before Williams produced a final service winner.

Williams said Clijsters "is playing great here. She's also a fan favorite and such a nice person, so it should be good."

Later, she added: "The gap is definitely getting narrower. I'm just trying to keep up with everyone else. ... I'm tired of answering these questions 'What does it take to beat the Williams sisters?"'

The other Williams

On the other side of the draw, Venus Williams plays her semifinal Thursday against Belgian Justine Henin-Hardenne.

"I'm glad to get to the finals any time," Serena said. "I also want the best for my sister, so if she gets there I'll be glad for her also."

Shaughnessy, who came in with an 11-match winning streak, said facing Williams' power "is an adjustment."

"I've been here playing in Australia for three weeks, playing great tennis. In the beginning, it was a shock how fast the ball was coming," she said. "I'm disappointed but it's a good learning experience and I'll do a lot better next time."

Myskina is predicting that Clijsters will win this tournament.

"I think right now Kim is the best player in the world," she said.

Clijsters, the 2001 French Open runner-up, kept Myskina on the run with a heavy forehand, which accounted for 20 of her 27 winners.

Clijsters lost her serve twice in the second set, but allowed Myskina to hold serve only three times in the match.

Myskina had won two of their previous four matches, but said Clijsters cut down sharply on errors this time.

Agassi moves on

On the men's side, Andre Agassi now gets to pick on someone his own age.

Using the slick strokes and tenacity that have carried him to seven Grand Slam tournament titles, the 32-year-old Agassi easily dismissed yet another younger opponent Tuesday to reach the semifinals.

The 6-3, 6-2, 6-2 victory over Sebastien Grosjean kept Agassi unbeaten at Melbourne Park since 1999, a 19-match streak. He won the title here in 1995, 2000 and 2001, then skipped last year's tournament with an injury.

Playing a string of opponents 27 and younger, Agassi has dropped just one set.

"I make a guy really pay the price to beat me," he said. "Where I feel like it's been a good tournament for me up to now is ... I haven't spent any unnecessary energy."

And now he has more than 48 hours to rest before playing Wayne Ferreira in the semifinals.

The 31-year-old Ferreira, the only unseeded quarterfinalist, upset French Open runner-up Juan Carlos Ferrero 7-6 (4), 7-6 (5), 6-1. Ferreira called it "one of my greatest wins."

The South African is playing in his 49th consecutive Grand Slam event, but the match against Agassi will be his first semifinal at a major since the 1992 Australian Open.

Agassi has dominated Ferreira, winning all 10 of their matches -- nine in straight sets.

Agassi worked the 12th-seeded Grosjean around the court and increased the tempo at the decisive moments.

Agassi might have some extra incentive for winning another Grand Slam title.

He told the Australian Open's official Web site that wife Steffi Graf -- who won 22 major championships before retiring -- agreed to play mixed doubles with him at the French Open if he wins it all in Melbourne.

"You think I'm an inspiration at 32? You should see her at 33," Agassi said. "She always wins. ... The problem is, I can't keep my eye on the ball."