TENNIS: World number three Venus Williams faces a possible walkover in today's Australian women's hardcourt championships semi-finals after a straight sets victory in yesterday's quarter-finals on the Gold Coast.

The American's scheduled opponent, Russia's world number 39 Nadia Petrova, overcame a shoulder injury to beat fifth-seeded Italian and world number 14 Silvia Farina-Elia 7-6 (7-4) 7-5 in their quarter-final yesterday.

Petrova battled on bravely after dropping the first three games of the second set and received court-side treatment on her injured right shoulder.

Top seed Williams fired off nine aces as she beat Japan's eighth seed Ai Sugiyama 6-2 6-4.

Williams said she had room for improvement, pointing to her nine double faults.

"I don't have to hit the double faults I was hitting today," the US Open and Wimbledon champion said.

"By the time I get to Melbourne (for the Australian Open starting on January 14th) I won't be.

"When I'm out there making mistakes, I'm not extremely upset about it. I'm hopefully streamlining for the next match."

Petrova said her coach had wanted her to retire hurt. "I remember my first service game in the second set, I went through pain," Petrova said.

"I saw my coach giving me the signal to just finish it up. I'm just a fighter and I thought: 'No way, I'm not going to give it up'."

Seventh-seeded Czech Daja Bedanova beat Slovenia's Tina Pisnik 6-1 3-0 after Pisnik retired with a thigh muscle strain.

Second seed and defending champion Belgian Justine Henin, the world number seven, overpowered German Anca Barna 6-2 6-1.

Belgium's fourth-seeded Kim Clijsters and Xavier Malisse moved a step closer to a Hopman Cup final in Perth, Australia, yesterday when they defeated France 2-1 in a crucial tie.

The Belgians took an unbeatable 2-0 lead over the French when they won both singles matches on the sixth day of the $1 million eight-nation contest before France gained some consolation by claiming the mixed doubles.