Sport - Tennis

Paszek upsets Hantuchova, to meet Schnyder

— Photo: AP

CALLING THE SHOTS: Tamira Paszek was in her element during the semifinal against Daniela Hantuchova in the Bali Open.

BALI: Switzerland’s Patty Schnyder defeated Russian Nadia Petrova 7-5 6-1 on Saturday to reach the final of the Bali Classic.

Austrian teenager Tamira Paszek shocked top seed Daniela Hantuchova 6-2, 5-7, 6-4 in the other semifinal.

The second-seeded Schnyder produced a high quality performance, and although both players were evenly matched for much of the first set, fourth seed Petrova failed to maintain her challenge.

The contest consisted largely of skilful rallies rather than each player attempting to pound the other off the court. Schnyder, in particular, entertained with the variety of her game.

Her mix of steady baseline play, combined with a liberal use of dropshots and teasing angles, eventually earned her the advantage.

In the first eight games, only five points were surrendered on serve by Petrova, and two by Schnyder, before Schnyder broke to lead 5-4 when the Russian made a backhand error.

Although the Swiss then failed to serve out the set, she broke again for 6-5 when Petrova hit a double-fault and took the set at her second opportunity.

Schnyder pressed home her advantage in the second set by forcing a volley error to break for 1-0. A second break after Petrova had led 40-0 on her serve all but sealed the Russian’s fate.

Petrova offered a late challenge but failed to win any of four break points at 4-1. In the next game, Schnyder broke again to claim the match on her fourth break point.

The 17-year-old Paszek, coached by Gustavo Kuerten’s former mentor Larri Passos, was on fire against Hantuchova in a spirited display that lasted just over two-and-a-half hours.

The Austrian secured a break for 5-4 before serving out for the match. Hantuchova, last year’s runner-up to Lindsay Davenport, missed the spring season with a foot injury and was a first-round loser at the U.S. Open three weeks ago.

“It was a very close match, she doesn’t give up, she played tough all the way through,” said the Slovakian.

“Overall, I’m happy with how I played. I have some things to improve and I missed a lot of easy balls at the end.”

Paszek will try for only her second WTA title against Switzerland’s Schnyder, who lives just a short drive away across the border.

“We are good friends, she lives just an hour away,” Paszek said. “We’ve played three times and twice they went to three sets.”

The results (semifinals):

At Nusa Dua: WTA Bali Open: Patty Schnyder bt Nadia Petrova 7-5, 6-1.

Tamira Paszek bt Daniela Hantuchova 6-2, 5-7, 6-4.

At Bucharest: BCR Open: Carlos Moya bt Richard Gasquet 6-2, 6-4.

Gilles Simon bt Jose Acasuso 4-6, 7-6(4), 6-4.

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