Three French Into Semis at WTA Paris
Posted on February 11, 2006Three Frenchwomen thrilled the home crowd at the WTA stop in Paris Friday, with winners (1) Amelie Mauresmo (d. defending champ (7) Safina), (2) Mary Pierce (d. countrywoman (WC) Loit in two tiebreaks), and unseeded Tatiana Golovin (d. (3) Petrova from a set down) moving into the semifinals.
"It was a tough match but I was well physically," said Mauresmo, who last faced Safina when she lost to the Russian in last year's Paris final. "I think that she was a bit tired by the end of the first set. I read her game easily and it helped me to a comfortable win."
Golovin saved a match point against Petrova in her comeback win.
Pierce edged her countrywoman Loit in three sets, still struggling to find her game but winning nonetheless.
"Like in the last match, I played well enough to win," Pierce said. "My level of game is not as good right now as it was last year. I'm not sure what the situation is, I guess you just go through moments like that. There were points during the match where I served well and moved well around the court, but I still have to fix things and keep working hard."
The only non-French into the semis was No. 4-seeded Swiss Patty Schnyder, who ended the hot streak of No. 5-seeded Russian Elena Dementieva 6-3, 6-3.
On Saturday Pierce will face Schnyder, while Mauresmo faces Golovin.
"I know Patty well, she's a great player, very talented," Pierce said. "I hope to play even better tennis tomorrow and come away with the win. But it won't be an easy match."
"It was a tough match but I was well physically," said Mauresmo, who last faced Safina when she lost to the Russian in last year's Paris final. "I think that she was a bit tired by the end of the first set. I read her game easily and it helped me to a comfortable win."
Golovin saved a match point against Petrova in her comeback win.
Pierce edged her countrywoman Loit in three sets, still struggling to find her game but winning nonetheless.
"Like in the last match, I played well enough to win," Pierce said. "My level of game is not as good right now as it was last year. I'm not sure what the situation is, I guess you just go through moments like that. There were points during the match where I served well and moved well around the court, but I still have to fix things and keep working hard."
The only non-French into the semis was No. 4-seeded Swiss Patty Schnyder, who ended the hot streak of No. 5-seeded Russian Elena Dementieva 6-3, 6-3.
On Saturday Pierce will face Schnyder, while Mauresmo faces Golovin.
"I know Patty well, she's a great player, very talented," Pierce said. "I hope to play even better tennis tomorrow and come away with the win. But it won't be an easy match."