Hantuchova Advances to Davenport Meeting at WTA New Haven

Posted on August 25, 2005

Willowy Slovak Daniela Hantuchova continued her hot streak Wednesday at the WTA stop at New Haven, coming from a set down to defeat No. 6 seed Patty Schnyder to set up a meeting with top seed Lindsay Davenport.

"I have so much respect for the way she plays," said Hantuchova, who contrarily appeared to show little respect by turning her back a number of times when Schnyder was getting ready to serve. "I just tried to keep fighting for every point. I went for my shots and it paid off."

Hantuchova was eventually cited by the chair umpire for a time violation for her slow play. Schnyder was willing to give the Slovak the benefit of the doubt.

"When I'm ready, I would like to start serving," Schnyder said. "I know she does it and it's her way, but I think on the serve, you should go with the pace of the server. She needs the time, I guess. I don't think it's really to break my rhythm or something, it's just that she needs it."

Also advancing was No. 2 seed Amelie Mauresmo (d. Likhovtseva), and un-seeds Anna-Lena Groenefeld of Germany (d. doubles partner Shaughnessy), China's Jie Zheng (d. Jackson), and Russian Anna Chakvetadze (d. countrywoman Kirilenko).

"Overall, I'm very happy with the way I played," said Mauresmo who dropped only four games. "I served big and was consistent except at the end where I got maybe a little bit too eager to finish her off."

On tap for Thursday are Davenport vs. Hantuchova, Groenefeld vs. Mauresmo, Medina Garrigues vs. Dementieva, and Zheng vs. Chakvetadze.