ROME, May 14 (UPI) -- Top-seeded Serena Williams and No. 5 Jennifer Capriati set up a semifinal showdown Friday at the Italia Masters.
Second-seeded Amelie Mauresmo of France and No. 8 Vera Zvonareva of Russia will square off after defeating Italians in Friday's quarterfinals.
Williams, in her first tournament since pulling out of the Family Circle Cup in April with inflammation in her left knee, beat ninth-seeded Russian Svetlana Kuznetsova, 7-5, 6-0. She improved her win-loss record to 11-1 this season.
Capriati crushed No. 16 Anna Smashnova-Pistolesi of Israel, 6-3, 6-3, to reach her second straight Tier I semifinal and third of the year. The former world No. 1 looks to be back on track after aggravating a degenerative back condition last November and missing the first month of the season.
Williams has won eight straight against Capriati to take a 9-4 advantage in their rivarly.
Mauresmo got past No. 10 Silvia Farina Elia, 6-1, 2-6, 7-5. Zvonareva defeated No. 14 Francesca Schiavone, 6-3, 6-3.
