SCOTTSDALE, Ariz., March 1 (UPI) -- Jennifer Capriati and Serena Williams may be on the verge of setting up a second straight all-American final the State Farm Tennis Classic.
Capriati, the top seed, got past sixth seed Barbara Schett of Austria, 7-5, 6-3, in Friday's quarterfinals of the hardcourt event.
Williams, the third seed, posted a 6-2, 7-5 victory over Nicole Pratt of Australia to reach the semifinals in her debut at the tournament.
In Saturday's semifinals, Capriati will go up against unseeded Nathalie Dechy of France and Williams will play No. 2 Martina Hingis of Switzerland.
Hingis overcame a poor second set to beat No. 8 Daja Bedanova of the Czech Republic, 6-4, 0-6, 6-3, in their quarterfinal.
In last year's final, Lindsay Davenport rolled to victory over fellow American Meghann Shaughnessy. Davenport was unable to defend her title due to injury.
Capriati defeated Schett for the fourth time in six career meetings. She also won their previous encounter in the fourth round of the 2001 U.S. Open.
Looking for her 14th career title, Capriati also is trying to regain the No. 1 ranking from Williams' sister -- Venus -- who is not entered in this tournament.
