Tennis: Krajicek warming up

Richard Krajicek looks to be peaking at the right time for the defence of his Wimbledon title. The Dutchman demolished German Hendrik Dreekmann 6-0, 6-3 yesterday in the second round of the Heineken Trophy grass-court tournament in Rosmalen, the Netherlands.

Krajicek took just 20 minutes and three break points to whitewash the first set, clinching it with a full-stretch forehand retrieved from the corner of the court.

Dreekmann found it impossible to read Krajicek's service, which constantly varied in power and placement, and the big Dutchman looked mobile and confident. Krajicek now meets the Czech Martin Damm.

The top-seeded American Michael Chang plays his quarter-final today against the No 8 seed, Spaniard Francisco Clavet.

Earlier in the day on centre court, the top women's seed, Anke Huber of Germany, needed three sets to clinch a semifinal place, beating the Belgian No 5 seed, Sabine Appelmans, 6-2, 4-6, 7-6.

Huber will line up in today's semi-finals against the in-form unseeded Dutchwoman Miriam Oremans, who upset the fourth seed, Karina Habsudova of Slovakia, 6-2, 7-5.

The French second seed, Mary Pierce, pulled out of the tournament yesterday morning, with a strained right elbow and Asa Carlsson went into the semi- finals on a walkover.

Carlsson now meets the Romanian third seed, Ruxandra Dragomir, who struggled past the Belgian Dominique van Roost 6-1, 2-6, 6-4.