Hantuchova Wins WTA Linz, Secures Year-end Championships Berth

Posted on October 28, 2007

No. 2-seeded Slovak Daniela Hantuchova topped No. 6 seed Patty Schnyder 6-4, 6-2 on Sunday to win the Generali Ladies Linz title in Austria, clinching a Top 8 berth for the year-end Sony Ericsson Championships in Madrid.

"I guess after winning the title and qualifying for the Sony Ericsson Championships, it can't get any better," Hantuchova said. "It's really a dream come true for me, an exceptional feeling. All the work from the year has really paid off. And Madrid is going to be a great bonus for me. I just can't describe the feeling."

It was the second title of the year for Hantuchova.

"I had to play a high level of tennis today," Hantuchova said. "I didn't expect the score to be so easy. It's one of the best scores I had against her. I don't know if it was one of the best matches we have ever played but the score definitely felt sweet."

Schnyder is now 0-2 in tour singles finals this year and 10-12 in her career.

"She never gave me a chance to come back -- she was hitting clean winners, so many winners," Schnyder said. "I realize that I had good matches here and beat two Top 10 players in Bartoli and Chakvetadze, so I'll take lots of good memories away from Linz."