Two-time champion Lindsay Davenport overcame a sluggish start to beat Slovak qualifier Daniela Hantuchova 3-6 6-1 6-1 and secure a place in the semi-finals of the 1.185 million Swisscom Challenge.
In other action, fifth-seeded Nathalie Tauziat of France continued her 16th and last appearance at the tournament in full force, defeating compatriot and ninth seed Sandrine Testud, 7-6 (7/4) 7-6 (7/4) for her spot in the round of four. Davenport's victory sets up a possible quarter-final showdown against either newly-crowned world no. 1 Jennifer Capriati or untried Swiss teen Marie-Gaiane Mikaelian, a qualifier who stormed through to the quarter-finals with upset victories over seventh-seeded Dementieva and Russia's Tatiana.
Davenport, seeded third, took a while to stamp her authority on the match, with the 53rd-ranked Hantuchova, Wimbledon mixed doubles champion, recording the only break of the opening set to jump ahead 3-1. But the American quickly turned the match around, sweeping the next seven games to take the set and a 2-0 lead in the next session. At 3-1, on a roll and clearly a league above, the American broke twice consecutively to wrap up the match.
Bureau Report