However, there was disappointment for the hundreds of Anna Kournikova fans when she went down to Venus Williams in three sets 3-6, 6-3, 6-2. Kournikova played a brilliant first set taking advantage of Williams' poor start. But after the American settled down into a rhythm and got her powerful ground strokes in place, there was little Kournikova could do. Williams now plays second seeded Graf. Williams has won the last two matches against Graf at Lipton and Hanover while Graf had beaten Williams in the Australian Open. ``We've had some good match-ups and I'm definitely ready to compete and so is she. I have never been to the semi-finals so I've got to try and take something this time,'' Williams said. The sixth-seededWilliams said the key to the match would be taking the opportunities that come her way. ``Steffi loves the game and when you love something you have to work hard to be the best at it, so it's all about what you want, and obviously she wanted to play tennis and continue to play at a top level, and she's doing that,'' Williams said.

Graf, however, felt she would have preferred to play Kournikova instead of Williams because if the American begins to serve well it could be difficult for her.