Sharapova, Davenport enter semis

Wimbledon champion Maria Sharapova [Images] overpowered fellow-Russian Elena Likhovtseva 6-3, 6-3 to reach the Pan Pacific Open semi-finals in Tokyo on Friday.

World number one Lindsay Davenport [Images] also advanced safely but Russia's [Images] Elena Dementieva, runner-up in two of last year's four Grand Slams, was upset by Japan's [Images] Shinobu Asagoe 6-3, 6-4.

Second seed Sharapova, beaten by Serena Williams [Images] 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 in her 2-6, 7-5, 8-6 defeat by Williams in Melbourne.

"I felt I could break any time. I know people are hungry to beat me after winning Wimbledon but I love beating them too."

Davenport is also trying to get the Australian Open out of her system after losing to Williams in the final last weekend.

The American moved a step closer to a record fifth Pan Pacific title with a crushing 6-1, 6-2 victory over Czech Iveta Benesova.

Defending champion Davenport barely broke sweat in her quarter-final and will next play either US Open champion Svetlana Kuznetsova or Slovakia's Daniela Hantuchova [Images].

Dementieva, finalist at last year's French Open and US Open, could barely hold her racket after injuring her racket hand during her shock defeat by world number 32 Asagoe.

© Copyright 2008 Reuters Limited. All rights reserved. Republication or redistribution of Reuters content, including by framing or similar means, is expressly prohibited without the prior written consent of Reuters. Reuters shall not be liable for any errors or delays in the content, or for any actions taken in reliance thereon.