INDIAN WELLS, CA, USA - Two of the Sony Ericsson WTA Tour's flashiest power players were tested but managed to fight their way into the Pacific Life Open singles final, as the semifinals took the court on Friday afternoon at the $2.1-million, Tier I event.
Daniela Hantuchova was the first to move into the championship round, overcoming an in-form Li Na in three sets, 75 46 61. The two women were evenly matched during the first two sets with crucial breaks of serve coming towards the end of each; the No.14-seeded Hantuchova broke in the second-to-last game of the opening set while the No.12-seeded Li broke at love in the last game of the second. But Hantuchova wasn't discouraged.
"It was tough, because it was so hot and the conditions were very, very difficult," Hantuchova said. "So I knew in the third set it was going to be a battle, but I felt like physically I was feeling much better on the court."
The last set was a blowout. Aside from holding serve in the fifth game, Li won just six points in the other six games, ending the match on consecutive double faults.
"The first few games in the third set were especially important; I tried to save my energy for the points, not to waste it in between," Hantuchova added. "I definitely felt like I had the edge in the third set. I felt very, very good. Also, mentally it helped me that I felt I could have stayed there as long as it took to get through."
"I was a little bit tired," Li said. "I just wanted to hit a lot of winners, because I didn't want play long points. So I missed a lot. And she never missed."
Playing in the hot conditions took more of a toll on Li; during the 10-minute break in between the second and third sets, that was evident.
"I was sitting on a golf cart and drinking lots of Gatorade," Li said. "When I came back to the court my legs felt very heavy, and I couldn't jump or hit big serves."
"I changed my dress, tried to drink a lot, had a banana, Gatorade," Hantuchova said. "I tried to use the heat break to get some energy back and drink a lot and just try not to think too much about it."
Hantuchova is no stranger to championship matches, having played five finals before. Although she has only earned one victory in those five finals, the location of that lone title win is certainly encouraging for this year's final.
"There is something very special about this place for me," said Hantuchova, who won the Pacific Life Open in 2002. "It's a fantastic feeling to be back on the court in the finals again and I'm going to enjoy it and have a great time. It's amazing."
But the Slovak, who turns 24 next month, says she has grown since that title.
"I think I've matured a lot. I've learned some lessons, not only on the tennis side, but also in my life. On the court, especially even if I don't play 100 percent, it's okay. I can win matches playing maybe 80 percent of my game and just figure out how I can get through them. Even if I don't feel great, no matter how good the opponent is, how well they play. There's always a way I can get through.
"When I was younger, I was always expecting everything to go my way and be perfect. And I realize it's okay not to be like that all the time."
Kuznetsova stops Bammer's dream run, secures Top 3 breakthrough
In a somewhat similar match, No.2 seed Svetlana Kuznetsova reached the final with a 67(5) 64 61 victory over No.33-seeded mother-on-Tour Sybille Bammer. The conclusion of the marathon 72-minute first set was a nail-biter; Bammer had broken in the 11th game and served 6-5, but squandered four set points and was forced into a tie-break. She raced out to a 6-2 lead, and after missing three more chances to close out the set she finally capitalized, on her eighth set point.
"It was tough but I said, 'Hey, you lost your chance. You had opportunities but you are still in the game, and there's still one more set to go,'" Kuznetsova said. "So I had to start all over again."
Bammer continued to give Kuznetsova problems early in the second set with her solid, all-court game, but after giving up a break in the fifth game the floodgates opened, and her Russian opponent cruised - through the rest of the match.
"It was two hours and 40 minutes, but the first set was one hour and a half and the other hour was another two sets," Kuznetsova continued. "I came up strong; that's what's important."
"I was a little tight from the beginning, so I was making some double faults in the first set; I was not really playing my game," Bammer said. "But, the first two sets were still okay. And she played great tennis in the third. She played really well."
By virtue of making the final, Kuznetsova is projected to rise from No.4 to No.3 on the next rankings, a career-high for her. She is the fourth Russian to make it to the elite three, after Anastasia Myskina, Maria Sharapova and Nadia Petrova.
Bammer was appearing in her first Tier I semifinal in the desert, the latest result in what is quickly becoming her career year.
"It was a great tournament for me," said the Austrian, who won her first career title in Pattaya City last month and is the only player so far this year to score a win over Serena Williams. "It's the biggest success in my career; I enjoyed playing in Indian Wells."
Saturday's final will be the eighth time Kuznetsova and Hantuchova duke it out. The Russian leads the series, 5-2, including a win in their only encounter this year at the last Tour stop, in Doha. Both of the Slovak's wins have come indoors.
"She's more dangerous indoors, but she's starting to get her level up again and she has improved a lot," Kuznetsova said. "I'm looking forward to playing her. I played her in Doha and I come up strong. I know how to play her but it's going to be a very tough match because she is playing well and she's in good shape now."
"It's exciting, especially for the academy," said the Slovak, who, like Kuznetsova, trains at the Casal/Sánchez Academy in Barcelona. "I'm in the final, I'm just gonna go out there and enjoy it and play my tennis and see what happens." (WTA)
