Estoril Open 2003 News and Events

Magui Serna
© João Lagos Sports

Defending champion Magui Serna moved through to the semifinals of the Estoril Open with a 6-3, 6-2 victory over Stephanie Cohen-Aloro of France. The Spanish No. 2 seed now meets third seed Virginie Razzano, who brought the amazing run of lucky loser Gisela Dulko to an end with a 7-6(4), 6-4 win.

After reaching the semifinals, Serna said: "I knew it was going to be a very tough match. I played Stephanie two months ago in Paris (indoor) and I lost in three sets. I knew her type of game so I knew it was going to be very tough."

Before this tournament, Serna favored the hard courts but now says that might change. "My best results happened in clay so I think I have to change my mentality," she laughed. "Tomorrow's semifinal will be the hardest match of the week so far. Physically I feel different this year than when I won last year because this year it is my firs tournament on clay."

Looking ahead to the semifinal, Razzano added: "I feel physically strong so I'm looking forward to the semifinal. I didn't play so well today, but maybe that was because it was my first match on Court 1."

Impressive Debut

Meanwhile, German qualifier Julia Schruff continued her impressive debut tournament, reaching the semifinal in her first event on the WTA Tour with a 7-5, 6-3 victory over Ludmilla Cervanova of the Slovak Republic. Schruff, ranked No. 238 before this week, knocked out top seed Katarina Srebotnik in the second round and now meets Switzerland's Emmanuelle Gagliardi, who overcame Croatia's Sivija Talaja 6-4, 7-6(4).

"I really don't know how I got there," said Schruff. "It was really about me fighting for every point rather than anything technical. I haven't really digested the whole thing yet. I'm just happy to be here and I never thought I would have won the last two matches."

Gagliardi, playing in her second WTA Tour semifinal, said: "I couldn't underestimate my opponent today as she has had some good results here this week. But I'm happy to get through and I have a good feeling about the tournament."