Schnyder Shocked in New Haven
Posted on August 19, 2007NEW HAVEN, CT, USA -- The final event of this summer's US Open Series got up and running on Sunday and there was an early upset for the spectators at the Connecticut Tennis Center at Yale, as No.5 seed Patty Schnyder crashed out at the very first hurdle. Her conqueror at the Pilot Pen Tennis presented by Schick was Francesca Schiavone and she was joined in the second round of the $600,000, Tier II event by America's Vania King.
Schiavone endured a disappointing first half of 2007, winning consecutive matches on just two occasions, but she got her season back on track in spectacular fashion four weeks ago when she won her maiden Sony Ericsson WTA Tour title in Bad Gastein. The 27-year-old Italian made her first appearance of the North American hardcourt swing last week in Toronto - falling to Tatiana Golovin in the third round - and her hard-fought win over Schnyder was further evidence of her return to form.
After dropping a tight first set on a tie-break, Switzerland's Schnyder hit back in emphatic fashion, racing through the second to force a decider. The final set was a tense affair, with five breaks of serve, although it was the unseeded Italian who held her nerve to move into the round of 16 with a 76(5) 26 64 victory.
Schiavone's compatriot Tathiana Garbin did not have such a good day in New Haven, as she was unceremoniously bundled out of the draw by wildcard entrant, King. The 30-year-old from Mestre has struggled for form of late, winning just two matches in the past two months on Tour and her lack of confidence was evident for all to see when she surrendered a 4-1 second-set lead on her way to a 64 64 defeat. The American teenager's reward for her 15th victory of the season is a clash with the No.4 seed, Dinara Safina, in what will be the pair's second career meeting - the Russian won a three-set battle in Los Angeles last year.
The doubles competition also got underway in the Elm City on Sunday and No.2 seeds Kveta Peschke and Rennae Stubbs got off to the perfect start with a 63 62 win over the Ukraine's Bondarenko sisters, Alona and Kateryna. With the world's top team of Cara Black and Liezel Huber also in the draw, as well as several other exciting pairs, the Czech-Australian duo will have their work cut out this week, but after triumphing in Los Angeles two weeks ago they are undoubtedly one of the in-form teams in the draw.
Day 1 of the tournament also saw the completion of the final four matches of the qualifying competition in Connecticut. Top seed Agnes Szavay advanced when her opponent Dominika Cibulkova was forced to retire with a lower back injury; she will be joined in the in main draw by Olga Govortsova, Tatiana Poutchek and Virginia Ruano Pascual.
Monday's play at the Pilot Pen Tennis presented by Schick will see two more seeds in action at the Connecticut Tennis Center, in what is sure to be an exciting second day. The No.6 seed and two-time New Haven semifinalist, Elena Dementieva, will take on talented Italian Mara Santangelo, while No.7 Sybille Bammer will do battle with home favorite Meghann Shaughnessy.
-- Courtesy WTA Tour
Schiavone endured a disappointing first half of 2007, winning consecutive matches on just two occasions, but she got her season back on track in spectacular fashion four weeks ago when she won her maiden Sony Ericsson WTA Tour title in Bad Gastein. The 27-year-old Italian made her first appearance of the North American hardcourt swing last week in Toronto - falling to Tatiana Golovin in the third round - and her hard-fought win over Schnyder was further evidence of her return to form.
After dropping a tight first set on a tie-break, Switzerland's Schnyder hit back in emphatic fashion, racing through the second to force a decider. The final set was a tense affair, with five breaks of serve, although it was the unseeded Italian who held her nerve to move into the round of 16 with a 76(5) 26 64 victory.
Schiavone's compatriot Tathiana Garbin did not have such a good day in New Haven, as she was unceremoniously bundled out of the draw by wildcard entrant, King. The 30-year-old from Mestre has struggled for form of late, winning just two matches in the past two months on Tour and her lack of confidence was evident for all to see when she surrendered a 4-1 second-set lead on her way to a 64 64 defeat. The American teenager's reward for her 15th victory of the season is a clash with the No.4 seed, Dinara Safina, in what will be the pair's second career meeting - the Russian won a three-set battle in Los Angeles last year.
The doubles competition also got underway in the Elm City on Sunday and No.2 seeds Kveta Peschke and Rennae Stubbs got off to the perfect start with a 63 62 win over the Ukraine's Bondarenko sisters, Alona and Kateryna. With the world's top team of Cara Black and Liezel Huber also in the draw, as well as several other exciting pairs, the Czech-Australian duo will have their work cut out this week, but after triumphing in Los Angeles two weeks ago they are undoubtedly one of the in-form teams in the draw.
Day 1 of the tournament also saw the completion of the final four matches of the qualifying competition in Connecticut. Top seed Agnes Szavay advanced when her opponent Dominika Cibulkova was forced to retire with a lower back injury; she will be joined in the in main draw by Olga Govortsova, Tatiana Poutchek and Virginia Ruano Pascual.
Monday's play at the Pilot Pen Tennis presented by Schick will see two more seeds in action at the Connecticut Tennis Center, in what is sure to be an exciting second day. The No.6 seed and two-time New Haven semifinalist, Elena Dementieva, will take on talented Italian Mara Santangelo, while No.7 Sybille Bammer will do battle with home favorite Meghann Shaughnessy.
-- Courtesy WTA Tour