Sports India

While Justin Henin-Hardenne and Amelie Mauresmo clinched their places in the ladies’ singles final, the woman whose crown they are aiming to take completed her very own personal victory by making it to the last four of the mixed doubles for the first time.

Venus Williams, together with fellow American partner Bob Bryan, defeated the fourth seeds Leander Paes and Samantha Stosur 7-6 (7-3), 6-3 in 66 minutes.

Seeing as both partnerships were competing in their second match of the day, you could forgive them if they looked a little tired. Instead, the players, especially Williams, delighted the No.2 Court crowd with a highly-competitive, fired-up and focused display.

With only a few points separating the players at the end of the first set, a tie-break was needed to decide the score. At this point it was the unseeded American duo appeared the hungrier for victory, prevailing 7-3 in the tie-break after Bryan continued his excellent serving and Williams sent a couple of unstoppable returns at the feet of Indian doubles specialist Leander Paes.

Sensing victory was near, Williams and Bryan then upped their game to another level. Williams unusually decided to change tactics and stay at the baseline in a few of the rallies, frequently passing her bewildered rivals with top class shots into the tramlines.

With Bryan’s expertise at the net, the duo are forming a formidable and clever partnership that puts them in with a good chance of lifting the mixed doubles trophy on Sunday. They outwitted their opponents at the net in the fourth game to achieve a crucial break of serve to give them the advantage in the set. The number two seeds could not find a way back into the game, eventually bowing out 6-3.

Williams and Bryan will play the second seeds Max Miryni and Jie Zheng in the quarter-finals.