Mauresmo Injured, Hantuchova, Schnyder, Jankovic Winners at Stuttgart
Posted on October 6, 2006STUTTGART, Germany -- Just three days after cracking the Top 10 for the first time, Dinara Safina was handed one of her most lopsided losses of the season, as Daniela Hantuchova rolled over the Russian youngster in straight sets, 62 62, in round two of the $650,000 Porsche Tennis Grand Prix.
Safina, who rose one spot to No.10 this week after reaching her 13th quarterfinal of the year last week in Luxembourg, was simply outplayed by Hantuchova, currently ranked No.19. The unseeded Slovak was particularly strong on break opportunities, converting on five of eight, as opposed to the No.6-seeded Russian's one of six. The two had played just last week in Luxembourg, with Safina winning in two sets.
"I played what I think was my best match of the year today," said Hantuchova, who had not defeated a Top 10 player since a January victory over Patty Schnyder. "I was really focused and couldn't really do anything wrong. It means a lot to me as I haven't been feeling well the last few days, and after losing to her just last week in Luxembourg, to put in a performance like this is a great effort I think."
Although she came into Stuttgart 29-22 on the year, the last time Hantuchova made the quarterfinal round of an event was the week before the Australian Open, where she notched the aforementioned win over Schnyder. She has fallen before the round of eight at 20 events since; but she has done well here in the past, reaching the final once (2002) and the semis once (2005), so this run isn't a huge surprise.
"I'm really happy to be in the quarterfinals here again and excited about playing Nadia in the quarterfinals."
Nadia Petrova, the No.4 seed this week, had fewer problems in her second round on Thursday night, dismissing Germany's top player, Anna-Lena Groenefeld, 63 64. The Russian is 2-1 lifetime against Hantuchova, having won their last two encounters extremely easily (61 63 at 2003 San Diego, 60 62 at 2005 Sydney). But she has won consecutive matches just once in her last eight events, so anything could happen.
Schnyder, Jankovic survive late challenges
The other seeds in action Thursday both emerged victorious, but not without some late-match drama. Schnyder and Jelena Jankovic overcame third set rallies from a pair of big-hitting teen; the No.5-seeded Schnyder watched a 5-2 lead shorten to 5-4 before closing out Israel's Shahar Peer, 76(3) 26 64, while No.8 seed Jelena Jankovic watched an identical lead completely evaporate before edging Bulgaria's Tsvetana Pironkova, 46 62 75, in a match that lasted over two and a half hours.
"She is a very dangerous player," said Schnyder of Peer, who has notched a slew of Top 20 victories this season and is currently on the verge of breaking into that group herself, coming into this event ranked No.24. "Her crosscourt backhand was the shot of the match; she saved three match points on that shot alone."
In the quarterfinals, Schnyder takes on No.3 seed Elena Dementieva, while Jankovic faces No.2 seed Svetlana Kuznetsova. The two highly-seeded Russians both won their second round matches on Wednesday. Schnyder is 2-0 this season (and 6-5 overall) against Dementieva, while Jankovic is 1-0 lifetime against Kuznetsova, having won their lone prior meeting just a few weeks ago in the fourth round of the US Open.
Golovin, Krajicek keep teen-aged hopes alive
The only teen to reach the last eight this week both won in straight sets earlier in the day, France's Tatiana Golovin defeating Iveta Benesova, 64 63, and Dutch phenom Michaella Krajicek downing Lisa Raymond, 64 62.
Both Benesova and Raymond reached the second round after their seeded opponents suffered injuries; Benesova won her first round match when No.7 seed Francesca Schiavone was forced to retire during the third set due to a right wrist injury, and Raymond took top seed Amelie Mauresmo's spot in the draw after the French world No.1 withdrew from the event with a right shoulder injury.
"I felt it in practice and was hoping it was nothing serious," said Mauresmo, who was a runner-up at the Porsche Tennis Grand Prix the last two years. "When I was warming up today I felt the pain again, and I think I made the right decision not to play. It's disappointing, but that's the way it is."
All four quarterfinals take Centre Court on Friday, beginning at 1:30pm local time with Golovin taking on Krajicek.
-- WTA
Safina, who rose one spot to No.10 this week after reaching her 13th quarterfinal of the year last week in Luxembourg, was simply outplayed by Hantuchova, currently ranked No.19. The unseeded Slovak was particularly strong on break opportunities, converting on five of eight, as opposed to the No.6-seeded Russian's one of six. The two had played just last week in Luxembourg, with Safina winning in two sets.
"I played what I think was my best match of the year today," said Hantuchova, who had not defeated a Top 10 player since a January victory over Patty Schnyder. "I was really focused and couldn't really do anything wrong. It means a lot to me as I haven't been feeling well the last few days, and after losing to her just last week in Luxembourg, to put in a performance like this is a great effort I think."
Although she came into Stuttgart 29-22 on the year, the last time Hantuchova made the quarterfinal round of an event was the week before the Australian Open, where she notched the aforementioned win over Schnyder. She has fallen before the round of eight at 20 events since; but she has done well here in the past, reaching the final once (2002) and the semis once (2005), so this run isn't a huge surprise.
"I'm really happy to be in the quarterfinals here again and excited about playing Nadia in the quarterfinals."
Nadia Petrova, the No.4 seed this week, had fewer problems in her second round on Thursday night, dismissing Germany's top player, Anna-Lena Groenefeld, 63 64. The Russian is 2-1 lifetime against Hantuchova, having won their last two encounters extremely easily (61 63 at 2003 San Diego, 60 62 at 2005 Sydney). But she has won consecutive matches just once in her last eight events, so anything could happen.
Schnyder, Jankovic survive late challenges
The other seeds in action Thursday both emerged victorious, but not without some late-match drama. Schnyder and Jelena Jankovic overcame third set rallies from a pair of big-hitting teen; the No.5-seeded Schnyder watched a 5-2 lead shorten to 5-4 before closing out Israel's Shahar Peer, 76(3) 26 64, while No.8 seed Jelena Jankovic watched an identical lead completely evaporate before edging Bulgaria's Tsvetana Pironkova, 46 62 75, in a match that lasted over two and a half hours.
"She is a very dangerous player," said Schnyder of Peer, who has notched a slew of Top 20 victories this season and is currently on the verge of breaking into that group herself, coming into this event ranked No.24. "Her crosscourt backhand was the shot of the match; she saved three match points on that shot alone."
In the quarterfinals, Schnyder takes on No.3 seed Elena Dementieva, while Jankovic faces No.2 seed Svetlana Kuznetsova. The two highly-seeded Russians both won their second round matches on Wednesday. Schnyder is 2-0 this season (and 6-5 overall) against Dementieva, while Jankovic is 1-0 lifetime against Kuznetsova, having won their lone prior meeting just a few weeks ago in the fourth round of the US Open.
Golovin, Krajicek keep teen-aged hopes alive
The only teen to reach the last eight this week both won in straight sets earlier in the day, France's Tatiana Golovin defeating Iveta Benesova, 64 63, and Dutch phenom Michaella Krajicek downing Lisa Raymond, 64 62.
Both Benesova and Raymond reached the second round after their seeded opponents suffered injuries; Benesova won her first round match when No.7 seed Francesca Schiavone was forced to retire during the third set due to a right wrist injury, and Raymond took top seed Amelie Mauresmo's spot in the draw after the French world No.1 withdrew from the event with a right shoulder injury.
"I felt it in practice and was hoping it was nothing serious," said Mauresmo, who was a runner-up at the Porsche Tennis Grand Prix the last two years. "When I was warming up today I felt the pain again, and I think I made the right decision not to play. It's disappointing, but that's the way it is."
All four quarterfinals take Centre Court on Friday, beginning at 1:30pm local time with Golovin taking on Krajicek.
-- WTA