Venus Williams and Monica Seles through to semis at Gaz de France

Friday, February 8th 2002, 12:00 am

By: News On 6

PARIS (AP) _ Americans Venus Williams and Monica Seles breezed into the semifinals of the Gaz de France tournament, eliminating their quarterfinal opponents in straight sets Friday.

Top-seeded Williams beat Italian Silvia Farina-Elia 6-2, 6-1. The world No. 2 faces the winner of a quarterfinal match between defending champion Amelie Mauresmo and Francesca Schiavone.

Seles defeated young Belgian star Justine Henin, who was seeded second in Paris, 6-4, 6-3. Fifth-seeded Seles faces Yugoslav Jelena Dokic in the semis.

No. 7 Dokic struggled early on in her quarterfinal against Russia's Elena Dementieva, but went on to win 5-7, 6-1, 6-2.