Sharapova and Davenport go through
TOKYO, Japan -- Wimbledon champion Maria Sharapova and world number one Lindsay Davenport both powered into the Pan Pacific Open semi-finals in resounding fashion.
Sharapova swept aside fellow Russian Elena Likhovtseva 6-3 6-3 while Davenport trounced Czech Iveta Benesova 6-1 6-2 to move closer to a record fifth title at the $1.3m tournament.
But there was disappointment for Elena Dementieva as the Russian was upset by Japan's Shinobu Asagoe 6-3 6-4 after suffering a freak hand injury.
Second seed Sharapova, beaten by Serena Williams in the Australian Open semi-finals last week, was never seriously tested in a one-sided match on Tokyo's indoor carpet.
The 17-year-old repeatedly punished Likhovtseva's weak serve and closed out the match with a ferocious backhand pass after 64 minutes.
"I put extra pressure on her second serve and I was in control on most points," said Sharapova, who squandered three match points in her 2-6 7-5 8-6 defeat by Williams in Melbourne.
"I felt I could break her any time. I know people are hungry to beat me after I won Wimbledon but I love beating them too."
Pan Pacific title holder Davenport is also trying to get the Australian Open out of her system after losing to Williams in the final last weekend.
Davenport had complained of fatigue after her stinging 2-6 6-3 6-0 defeat by Williams in Melbourne but the American was in complete control against the error-prone Benesova.
"Lots of crazy things can happen on this surface but it was pretty easy," said Davenport, who won the title in 1998, 2001, 2003 and 2004.
"She threw in a lot of errors that kept the match pretty short."
U.S. champion Svetlana Kuznetsova will attempt to halt Davenport's bid for a third straight title in the semi-finals after the Russian beat Slovakia's Daniela Hantuchova 7-6 7-6.
Third seed Kuznetsova took the tiebreaks 7-4 and was forced to battle all the way by her eighth-seeded opponent in a fierce baseline struggle.
Dementieva, finalist at last year's French Open and U.S. Open, could barely hold her racket after aggravating a strained ligament in her right hand.
Asagoe took full advantage and the world number 32 will play Sharapova in Saturday's semi-finals.
