Mauresmo Beats Nemesis S. Williams

Match point was a beauty: another long rally that ended with Williams running down a drop shot and firing a passing shot down the line. But Mauresmo anticipated the ball's trajectory perfectly and lunged for a sharply angled volley that was beyond Williams's reach.

Williams was in no mood to compliment Mauresmo during her post-match news conference. Nor was she interested in analyzing where she fell short, insisting that the lack of match play was a factor in her performance. The U.S. Open is only the fourth tournament she has competed in this year.

"I think I could have come out on top had I made a few more shots and had I just been a little more consistent -- maybe [had] a little bit more fire or something," Williams said. "But I don't think lack of match play had anything to do [with it] too much."

Although she conceded that she "wasn't pumping and jumping and the whole nine [yards]" for three full sets against Mauresmo, Williams brushed off a suggestion that she should rethink her approach to her training and conditioning in an effort to improve her ranking.

"I'm gonna go play some events in Europe and have fun," she said. "It's really a matter of me just playing better in the big matches, maybe. I don't know. It's just a matter of time. It's not that big for me. You know, I don't see me in this position much longer."

Earlier Monday, Lindsay Davenport's 6-4, 6-4 victory over Patty Schnyder sent Davenport into the quarterfinals, where second-seeded Justine Henin-Hardenne awaits.

Davenport withdrew from Wimbledon with a back injury this year, and an arm injury two weeks ago left her participation in the U.S. Open in doubt. But nothing bothered her Monday -- not the aftereffects of a difficult three-set victory Sunday, the swirling wind or Schnyder's unpredictable strokes.

Henin-Hardenne, who breezed past Shahar Peer, 6-1, 6-0, is likely to present a tougher challenge. The Belgian holds a 6-5 record against Davenport, with all six of her victories coming since 2003.

Davenport hasn't had time to plot her strategy but agreed, with a self-deprecating chuckle, that her power should be an asset against the diminutive Henin-Hardenne, whose game relies on speed and artistry.

"Well, I'm not going to outrun her," said Davenport, who is 6 feet 2. "I don't have a ton of options."

Third-seeded Maria Sharapova rebounded from a sluggish start to defeat Li Na of China, 6-4, 6-2. Li bolted to a 4-1 start before Sharapova found her groove. Jelena Jankovic also earned a berth in quarterfinals with 6-7 (7-5), 6-3, 6-2 upset of sixth seed Svetlana Kuznetsova, the 2004 champion.