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Pierce looks as though she
can't quite believe her Paris performance
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PARIS, France (Reuters) -- France's Mary Pierce thrilled the Paris fans by crushing world number one Lindsay Davenport 6-3 6-2 to reach the semifinals of the French Open on Tuesday.
The only French player left in either singles draw, the 2000 champion rolled back the years to set up a semifinal against Russia's Elena Likhovtseva.
"It is crazy," said the 30-year-old Pierce, who has regained her best form with perfect timing after being hampered by injuries over the last three years.
"I have just beaten the world number one in straight sets ... I need a bit of time to realise what I have done."
Pierce, seeded 21, was leading 5-0 and about to serve for the match when a man in shorts invaded centre court before being quickly pulled away by security.
The Frenchwoman, flying the French flag alone after the more favored Amelie Mauresmo bowed out in the third round, then wasted a match point and dropped serve.
American Davenport survived another match point two games later before going out by netting a backhand after 80 minutes of play.
Top seed Davenport, whose best result in her least favorite grand slam event was a semifinal appearance in 1998, had struggled on her path to the last eight, dropping a set in all her matches.
"I beat my expectations (by reaching the quarterfinals) but at the moment I'm kind of down with the tennis that I played," said the 28-year-old.
Earlier in the tournament, Davenport said she would make a decision by the end of the year on whether to retire from the sport.
"That didn't cross my mind," she added on Tuesday when asked if perhaps she had played her last match at the French Open.
While Davenport was looking forward to the grasscourt season, Pierce, making her 15th appearance in her home event, was dreaming of another triumph.
"It's different but my feelings are similar to the ones I had when I won," said the Frenchwoman.
"I would love to experience such great moments again. It would be even better this time, after all I've been through."
France's last hope said she expected a tough match against Likhovtseva, who advanced by beating Bulgarian teenager Sesil Karatantcheva 2-6 6-4 6-4.
"I beat her easily a few weeks ago in Berlin and I will be the