Splash after wet and watch

Australian Open champion Jennifer Capriati was pushed aside 6-3, 6-2 in the quarter-finals at a wet Wimbledon on Monday, victim of big-hitting Frenchwoman Amelie Mauresmo.

It was sweet revenge for the 22-year-old Mauresmo, whom Capriati beat at the same stage in Melbourne in January and at the US Open last year 8211; and it took her to her first Grand Slam semi-final.

Mauresmo will play Slovakian teenager Daniela Huntuchova or second seed Serena Williams, who was leading 6-3, 3-1 when their quarter-final was again interrupted by rain.

The third-seeded Capriati started brightly enough but lost her rhythm in a match halted twice by rain. She also had massage treatment on her shoulder in the second set.

Apart from Capriati and Mauresmo, the weather took centrestage at Wimbledon with only 75 minutes play possible by 7 p.m. 1800 GMT

Persistent drizzle had delayed the start of the action, scheduled for midday, for almost four hours and players spent a frustrating afternoon waiting to go on court.

Capriati lost her serve in the sixth game of the first set, sending down two double faults as the drizzle started after gesturing towards the umpire that she felt they should stop playing.

Mauresmo came out guns blazing, serving powerfully and taking chances. She played a canny game at the net and her backhand was in blazing form.

8220;It did not help to be playing an opponent who was playing the best she had for a long time,8221; Capriati said, adding Mauresmo8217;s game had been much more consistent than usual.

8220;I8217;ve got to hand it to her she played unbelievably. When you8217;re up against someone who8217;s playing so well it puts the pressure on you. I just never got into the match.8221;

Mauresmo won the first set by ripping a backhand down the line after 27 minutes play.

Capriati 8211; winner of three Grand Slams 8211; needed to save a break point in the first game of the second set and looked sluggish in the second game.

She saved two break points in the third game but could not raise her level of play to fend off a third and put the ball into the net to give the Frenchwoman the initiative.

Mauresmo broke again in the fifth game after which Capriati took time out for treatment to her shoulder. Reuters