SINGAPORE, OCT 17: World number three Marcelo Rios of Chile whipped Jim Courier 6-2, 6-1 today to set up a final against Australian veteran Mark Woodforde at the $700,000 Singapore Open.While the 33-year-old Woodforde had to overcome a calamitous start to beat Dutchman Sjeng Schalken 0-6, 6-4, 6-2, Rios was never in trouble after breaking Courier's serve in the opening game.His victory set up an intriguing clash tomorrow with Woodforde. The Australian's world ranking has slid to 95 and it is four years since he last appeared in singles final.Davenport in finalZURICH: American Lindsay Davenport displayed the form which earned her the no. 1 ranking on the WTA Tour earlier this week, taking only 58 minutes to rout 13th-ranked Amanda Coetzer 6-3, 6-1 today and reach the semifinals of the European Championships.It was Davenport's seventh straight victory over the South African, but the American said she was feeling a little extra pressure resulting from her new status.There was little signthat Davenport's new status was rattling her today. In fact, it was Coetzer who appeared to crumble, holding serve just once in the entire match.The winner of five titles this season, Davenport will meet Irina Spirlea in the semifinals, the Romanian trampling eighth-seed Dominique Van Roost 6-4, 6-0 in her quarterfinal. Spirlea needed just 53 minutes to cruise past the Belgian.American Venus Williams blasted her way into the semifinals polishing off a straight-sets win over Mary Pierce with a world record serve. At match point, Williams hammered a 205 kmph serve past a stunned Pierce, to close out the one-sided contest 6-4, 6-1.``I teed up for an ace that serve. I hit that ball perfectly. It was great timing and technique. It'll be awhile before I can get it faster, maybe the Australian Open.'' The American served a total of 13 aces.Sampras reaches semisVIENNA, (AUSTRIA): Top-seeded Pete Sampras took only 57 minutes to overpower unseeded Tim Henman 6-0, 6-3 today and advance to thesemifinals of the $ 800,000 CA Trophy tournament.In today's semis, Sampras will face Todd Martin, who beat Cedric Pioline 6-4, 6-3. In another quarterfinal, second-seeded Patrick Rafter of Australia was upset by Britain's Greg Rusedski 6-3, 7-6 (7-3). Rusedski's semifinal opponent will be Slovak Karol Kucera, a 6-3, 6-2 winner over unseeded Jonas Bjorkman of Sweden.
