Hantuchova, Schnyder reach Linz final

Daniela Hantuchova at Generali Ladies LinzPatty Schnyder at Generali Ladies Linz

Second-seeded Slovakian Daniela Hantuchova and sixth-seeded Swiss Patty Schnyder will meet in the final of the Generali Ladies Linz on Sunday.

World No.10 Daniela Hantuchova stormed back from a third-set deficit and also saved a match point against fifth seed Nicole Vaidisova to win 2-6, 6-2, 7-6 (7-3) and advance to the Linz final. This was the first time Hantuchova defeated Vaidisova.

The Slovakian will seek her third career title on Sunday, and her second title of 2007 (after winning Indian Wells in March).

In the other semifinal match Patty Schnyder beat third seed Marion Bartoli of France 7-6 (7-5), 6-3. Bartoli came back twice from a break down in the first set, but Schnyder won the tie-break. At 5-1 in the second, Schnyder missed three match points on Bartoli's serve and was broken afterward, but then closed it out on her fourth match point as Bartoli hit a forehand wide.

The 17th-ranked Swiss hopes that on Sunday she will win her 11th career title, and the first one since 2005.

Hantuchova and Schnyder have met 16 times so far, and they are 8-8, but the Slovak won five of their last six matches. (photos via Yahoo!)

Schnyder makes short work of Chakvetadze at Linz Open

Sixth-seeded Patty Schnyder needed only 39 minutes to crush top-seeded Anna Chakvetadze 6-1, 6-0 Friday and reach the semifinals of the Generali Ladies Linz.

Look at these facts: Chakvetadze made 24 unforced errors, scored only six points on her opponent’s serve, and she won her only serving game after facing two break points! No wonder the Russian described the Linz Open quarterfinal as her worst match of the year.

Chakvetadze is now withdrawing from an event next week in Quebec in order to prepare for the season-ending Championships in Madrid but her confidence is low.

"Now I'm already thinking if it's a good thing that I qualify for there because with this kind of game I don't know what I'm going to do there," Chakvetadze told reporters.

In the semifinals Patty Schnyder will face third-seeded Marion Bartoli, who defeated Julia Vakulenko in the quarterfinals. Second seed Daniela Hantuchova also reached the semis, and will play against either Nicole Vaidisova or Dinara Safina. (sources: ESPN, Reuters)

Sharapova, Bartoli, Mauresmo, Schnyder, Jankovic all fall on a nightmare Wednesday for top players

With the exception of two tennis stars, there was nothing but rain, heat, and upsets in Moscow and Bangkok on Wednesday.

Who fell?

Before the start of the third round, the Kremlin Cup was left without four of its top eight seeds.

Second seed Maria Sharapova played her first match since the US Open and lost it in straight sets. The Russian was defeated by world No.32 Victoria Azarenka 7-6(9) 6-2.

Fifth seed Marion Bartoli was knocked out of the tournament by world No.46 Vera Dushevina. The Wimbledon finalist captured the first set 6-2, only to surrender a bagel set before losing 2-6, 6-0, 6-4. Read more »

Maria Sharapova defeats Patty Schnyder, wins second straight Acura Classic

Maria Sharapova Acura Classic titleIn the Acura Classic final on Sunday, world No. 2 Maria Sharapova of Russia won her first title of the year overcoming world No. 17 Patty Schnyder of Switzerland in three sets 6-2 3-6 6-0.

What I can say about the match is that Schnyder, seeded 11th, was excellent on numerous occasions throughout the final, but the player with consistent domination was top-seeded Sharapova. Read more »

Sharapova, Schnyder meet in Acura Classic finals

To defend her Acura Classic title, top-seeded Maria Sharapova of Russia will have to overcome 11th seeded Patty Schnyder of Switzerland.

In the semifinals, Maria Sharapova beat fellow Russian Anna Chakvetadze 6-3 6-2 and in that way ended the third seed’s hard-court run of 12 straight victories. However, soon after the loss to Sharapova, the 20-year-old Chakvetadze together with Victoria Azarenka of Belarus reached the doubles final by defeating Ai Sugiyama of Japan and Katarina Srebotnik of Slovenia 6-2, 3-6, 10-6. Read more »


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