Capriati to meet Mauresmo in Canadian Open final

Second seed Jennifer Capriati advanced to a showdown against France's Amelie Mauresmo in the Canadian Open final after her semi-final opponent, Yugoslav Jelena Dokic, retired with a strained right thigh on Saturday.

Mauresmo had to battle for her spot in the final of the $1.2 million tournament, a warm-up for the US Open in nine days, as Slovakia's Daniela Hantuchova forced a tie-break in the second set, but finally lost 6-2 7-6.

Seventh seed Mauresmo sailed through the first set with a powerful service game against the eighth seeded Hantuchova.

The 19-year-old Slovakian upped her game in the second set, but could not convert two set points in the 12th game before falling to Mauresmo in the tie break.

"I gave myself a little fright," Mauresmo said. "I'm happy it didn't go into the third set."

Capriati will be seeking to win her first title since retaining the Australian Open in January, while Mauresmo's last tournament victory was at Dubai in February.

Capriati, winner of the Canadian Open in 1991 at age 15, has won three of her five career matches against Mauresmo, but lost their last encounter in the quarter-finals on Wimbledon's grass.

"I think I have a great opportunity tomorrow," Capriati said. "Going into the Open, for sure, it would mean a lot and give me a lot of confidence."

Mauresmo expects a tough match against her 26 year-old opponent on Montreal's hard court.

"We know each other's game," the 23 year-old Frenchwoman said. "She likes to hit the ball hard and dictate the game."

DOKIC THIGH STRIKES AGAIN

Third seed Dokic was trailing 7-6 4-0 against Capriati when she quit, saying the pain in her thigh worsened from the middle of the first set.

"The more I played, the more I had to run and the worse it got," she said. "I couldn't stay in, I couldn't run enough and couldn't make her play enough."

The 19 year-old Yugoslav seems to have paid the price for her hectic tournament schedule and has been troubled by frequent thigh problems this year.

"I'm more worried about myself than my opponents right now," Dokic said.

Capriati failed to impose her authority in the first set, only winning it 7-5 in the tiebreak, but made the most of her opponent's discomfort in the second to establish a commanding lead before Dokic retired.

"It was very important to get that first set in, it was a very intense first set. I think it was the match right there," said the 26 year-old American.

"It was great hard hitting. Maybe there wasn't so much variety, but I think just off the baseline it was definitely a very high level."