Williams sisters on course for finals

NEW YORK (AP) -- Fans watched quietly as if they had seen it all before. No drama, no disputed calls, not even a hint of an upset.

Just another easy Williams win.

On Wednesday night, it was Venus cruising into the U.S. Open semifinals. One day earlier it was Serena. The only time either may lose could be in Saturday night's championship match.

A third straight sister-sister Grand Slam final grows more likely by the day.

Two-time defending champion Venus played a dominating all-around game to beat sixth-seeded Monica Seles 6-2, 6-3 in 57 minutes. Serena, who beat her sister in this year's French Open and Wimbledon finals, has lost 14 games in five straight-sets victories at the Open.

Third-seeded Jennifer Capriati was stunned by No. 10 Mauresmo 4-6, 7-6 (5), 6-3 Wednesday. No. 5 Jelena Dokic lost in the second round, No. 7 Kim Clijsters in the third and No. 8 Justine Henin in the fourth.

Two of the four men's semifinalists were decided Wednesday when favorites struggled briefly against long shots.

Top-seeded Lleyton Hewitt beat No. 20 Younes El Aynaoui 6-1, 7-6 (6), 4-6, 6-2, and No. 6 Andre Agassi came back for a 6-7 (5), 6-3, 7-5, 6-3 win over No. 32 Max Mirnyi, who lost in the first round of this year's other three Grand Slam events.

The speedy Hewitt and Agassi are both strong baseline players.

"You want to certainly take some chances" against Hewitt, Agassi said.