French Open: Clijsters sets up Belgian semi

Kim Clijsters today set up the first all-Belgian semi-final in French Open history when she cruised past Hungary’s Petra Mandula.

The number 12 seed defeated Mandula 6-1 6-3 in just 55 minutes to earn her showdown with compatriot Justine Henin.

Henin, 19, had earlier won the battle of the young guns when she brushed aside Russia’s Lina Krasnoroutskaya, just 17, 6-1 6-2 in a mere 50 minutes in front of Crown Prince Philippe.

Clijsters was never troubled in her match with Mandula, the Belgian having far too much pace and power for her 23-year-old opponent.

The result guarantees Roland Garros will have its first Belgian women’s finalist.

But Henin or Clijsters will have the dubious pleasure of meeting either in-form world number one Martina Hingis or Jennifer Capriati.

Hingis took a step nearer lifting the only Grand Slam title which still eludes her when she blasted Italy’s 20-year-old Francesca Schiavone off Suzanne-Lenglen court, taking just 68 minutes to wrap up an impressive 6-1 6-4 victory.

In the other semi Capriati continued her remarkable fairytale tennis comeback, beating Serena Williams 6-2 5-7 6-2 but only after double-faulting on match point in the second set and then requiring three more match points in the third.