- News>
- Tennis
Hantuchova and pierce out of Zurich reckoning
Zurich, Oct 15: Eighth seeded Slovak Daniela Hantuchova failed to get beyond the opening round of the 1.3 million Euro WTA tournament here, going out 7-6 (7/2) 7-5 to Paola Suarez of Argentina.
Zurich, Oct 15: Eighth seeded Slovak Daniela Hantuchova failed to get beyond the opening round of the 1.3 million Euro WTA tournament here, going out 7-6 (7/2) 7-5 to
Paola Suarez of Argentina.
But defending champion Patty Schnyder of Switzerland
earned a meeting with third seed Amelie Mauresmo when she
comfortably defeated Eleni Daniilidou from Greece 6-3 6-3.
Suarez, ranked just two places below her seeded opponent at 17, had a bigger weapon in her forehand, and was also the stronger player at the important stages of the match.
The argentine, who recently became the first woman from her country since Gabriela Sabatini eight years ago to reach the quarter-finals of the US Open, twice broke serve in the first set, only for Hantuchova to break back in the next game.
But she took the tiebreak with ease, and had the better chances in the second set. After the players had exchanged serves in the first two games, Suarez held a break point to lead 5-3 and serve out the match. And although the Slovak held off that threat with a backhand winner, she dropped her serve to 15 in the final game.
Former finalist Mary Pierce retired from her opening match with a leg injury, handing victory to Slovenia's Katarina Srebotnik after she had lost the first eight games.
The 28-year old from France, who finished as runner-up to Iva Majoli in 1995 and has never lost before quarter-finals in her four previous appearances in Zurich, left the court for treatment after falling behind 3-0.
Bureau Report
Suarez, ranked just two places below her seeded opponent at 17, had a bigger weapon in her forehand, and was also the stronger player at the important stages of the match.
The argentine, who recently became the first woman from her country since Gabriela Sabatini eight years ago to reach the quarter-finals of the US Open, twice broke serve in the first set, only for Hantuchova to break back in the next game.
But she took the tiebreak with ease, and had the better chances in the second set. After the players had exchanged serves in the first two games, Suarez held a break point to lead 5-3 and serve out the match. And although the Slovak held off that threat with a backhand winner, she dropped her serve to 15 in the final game.
Former finalist Mary Pierce retired from her opening match with a leg injury, handing victory to Slovenia's Katarina Srebotnik after she had lost the first eight games.
The 28-year old from France, who finished as runner-up to Iva Majoli in 1995 and has never lost before quarter-finals in her four previous appearances in Zurich, left the court for treatment after falling behind 3-0.
Bureau Report