World number one tennis player Lindsay Davenport of the United States and Wimbledon champion Maria Sharapova of Russia have cruised into the finals of the indoor Pan Pacific Open tournament in Tokyo, Japan.
In Saturday's semifinals, Davenport eliminated U.S. Open champion and number three seed Svetlana Kuznetsova of Russia in straight sets 6-1, 7-6. The two-time defending champion is looking for her third straight Pan Pacific title and fifth overall.
Sharapova knocked off Japan's unseeded Shinbu Asagoe in another straight sets match 6-1, 7-6.
In men's action, the top four seeds have advanced to the semifinals of the BellSouth Open in Vina Del Mar, Chile.
Top seed Gaston Gaudio of Argentina defeated sixth seeded countryman Jose Acasuso in three sets 6-2, 3-6, 6-1 Friday to move into the round of four.
Also advancing were second seed Fernando Gonzalez of Chile, number three Filippo Volandri of Italy, and fourth seeded Spaniard David Ferrer.
In Delray Beach, Florida, top seed Vincent Spadea survived a three-set match to move into the semifinals of the Millennium International tennis tournament.
Spadea triumphed over fellow American Kevin Kim 7-5, 6-7, 6-4 in Friday's quarterfinals. He next takes on third seeded Belgian Xavier Malisse.
The other semifinal match Saturday will be a contest between Wesley Moodie of South Africa and second seed Jiri Novak of the Czech Republic.
Some information for this report provided by AFP, AP and Reuters.
