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Serena dominates Sharapova once again

— PHOTO: AP

IN FULL FLOW: Roger Federer was too good for Frederico Gil in the Estoril Open.

Charlston: Serena Williams continued her domination of Maria Sharapova with a 7-5, 4-6, 6-1 win in the quarterfinals of the $1.3 million WTA Family Circle Cup.

Williams improved to 5-2 overall against the Russian who lost for just the second time in 26 matches in 2008.

“In the third set I started to play the Serena game. I’m not new to this,” said the fifth seeded American who has now won four straight against Sharapova.

The 26-year-old former No. 1 is attempting to capture her third consecutive tournament at this clay court event, having won consecutive titles in Bangalore and Miami.

“This is definitely a big win, but I still want to win the next round and win the tournament,” said Williams, who is ranked ninth in the world.

In early control

Facing Williams for the first time on clay, Sharapova was in control early and served for the first set at 5-4.

Williams, however, reeled off the next three games — including two breaks — to steal the set.

Sharapova rebounded to even the match at one set apiece, but Williams dominated the decisive third set, opening up a commanding 5-0 lead en route to the win.

Federer in semifinals

Meanwhile Roger Federer battled changing weather, which went from sun to rain and back, before beating Portugal’s Frederico Gil 6-4, 6-1 to reach the men’s semifinals of the Estoril Open.

A quarterfinal twice interrupted by the unpredictable conditions sent the players off court for 35 minutes in the first set and another 25 in the third game of the second.

Federer, working to lift his first title of the season as he begins the pre-French Open clay campaign working with Spanish coach Jose Higueras, was able to come out after the second interruption to finish the job.

The results: At Estoril (ATP & WTA Estoril Open): Men: Quarterfinals: Roger Federer bt Frederico Gil 6-4, 6-1; Nikolay Davydenko bt Marc Gicquel 6-4, 5-7, 6-3; Florent Serra bt Flavio Cipolla 6-1, 6-1; Denis Gremelmayr bt Jiri Vanek 6-2, 3-6, 6-2.

Women: Quarterfinals: Klara Zakopalova bt Karin Knapp 3-6, 6-4, 6-4; Maret Ani bt Olga Savchuk 7-6(4), 4-6, 6-4.

At Valencia (ATP Valencia Open): Quarterfinals: Nicolas Almagro bt Juan Monaco 6-3, 6-2; Tommy Robredo bt Potito Starace 6-3, 3-0, retd.; David Ferrer bt Fernando Verdasco 6-3, 1-6, 7-5; Evgeny Korolev bt Robin Haase 7-5, 6-4

At Houston (ATP U.S. Claycourt Championship): Quarterfinals: Wayne Odesnik bt Sergio Roitman 2-6, 7-6(4), 6-1; Marcel Granollers-Pujol bt Marcos Daniel 6-3, 6-2; James Blake bt Agustin Calleri 6-4, 6-3; Oscar Hernandez bt Mardy Fish 6-2, 7-6(5).

At Charleston (WTA Family Circle Cup): Quarterfinals: Serena Williams bt Maria Sharapova 7-5, 4-6, 6-1; Alize Cornet bt Agnes Szavay 7-5, 6-4; Vera Zvonareva bt Jelena Jankovic 6-2, 3-6, 6-2; Elena Dementieva bt Patty Schnyder 6-4, 6-4.

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