GOLD COAST (Australia), Jan 3: Former world No 1 Amelie Mauresmo suffered a blow to her confidence before the Australian Open when she was beaten by Patty Schnyder in the quarter-finals of the Australian Hardcourt Championships on Thursday.
The Frenchwoman, making her way back from a shoulder injury, was upset 6-4, 6-4 by Switzerland’s Schnyder, who claimed victory in one hour, 16 minutes.
Schnyder will now play Li Na of China, who ended top seed Nicole Vaidisova’s hopes of a first title in more than 18 months with a 6-3, 6-3 triumph.
The tall Czech was troubled by an ankle injury midway through the first set against Li but did not blame the problem.
Defending champion Dinara Safina was another casualty, the Russian squandering five match points as she was beaten 4-6, 6-1, 7-6 by fifth seed Shahar Peer of Israel.
Safina had squeezed through her second-round match with Flavia Pennetta of Italy but she was not quite so lucky against Peer, contributing to her downfall with 13 double faults.
Safina had three match points at 5-4 in the final set and two more in the tiebreak, which she eventually lost 10-8, and said she had to improve her concentration.
Quarter-final results on Thursday: 4-Patty
Schnyder (Switzerland) bt 6-Amelie Mauresmo (France) 6-4, 6-4; Li Na (China) bt 1-Nicole Vaidisova (Czech Republic) 6-3,
6-3; Victoria Azarenka (Belarus) bt Dominika Cibulkova (Slovakia) 6-1, 3-6, 6-3; 5-Shahar Peer (Israel) bt 3-Dinara Safina (Russia) 4-6, 6-1, 7-6 (10-8).
DAVENPORT AT EASE
AUCKLAND: Lindsay Davenport continued her smooth progress towards another title as she cruised past Sara Errani of Italy 6-3, 6-3 to reach the semi-finals of the Auckland Classic on Thursday.
The former world No 1, in just her fourth tournament back after a year out in which she had her first child, needed just 57 minutes to see off the world No 69.
Davenport will now take on Tamira Paszek of Austria. The 17-year-old Paszek, 14 years younger than Davenport, will be the American’s semi-final opponent after she upset Russian second seed Maria Kirilenko 6-1, 6-3.
The top three seeds all bit the dust on Thursday with No 1 Vera Zvonareva and No 3 Katarina Srebotnik joining Kirilenko on the sidelines.
Zvonareva, the runner-up in 2006 and 2007, was ousted 6-3, 2-6, 7-6 by New Zealand wildcard Marina Erakovic in a match which saw the Russian complain about a series of line calls.
In what will be her first WTA Tour semi-final, Erakovic will take on Aravane Rezai of France, who beat Srebotnik 6-1, 6-3.
Quarter-final results: Aravane Rezai (France) bt 3-Katarina Srebotnik (Slovenia) 6-1, 6-3; Lindsay Davenport (US) bt Sara Errani (Italy) 6-3, 6-3; Marina Erakovic (New Zealand) bt 1-Vera Zvonareva (Russia) 6-3, 2-6, 7-6 (7-5); 6-Tamira Paszek (Austria) bt 2-Maria Kirilenko (Russia) 6-1, 6-3.
EASY FOR HEWITT
ADELAIDE: Top seed Lleyton Hewitt made light work of Argentine Jose Acasuso in reaching the quarter-finals of the Adelaide International 6-2, 6-2 on Thursday.
The former world No 1 was in dominant form as he wrapped up victory in 62 minutes to set up a meeting in the last eight with Jo-Wilfried Tsonga of France.
Tsonga, who beat the Australian in their only previous meeting, was too strong for Latvian Ernests Gulbis and crushed the teenager 6-3, 6-2.
Third seed Jarkko Nieminen was too strong for Canadian qualifier Frank Dancevic, advancing with a 6-4, 6-1 win.
Second-round results: 6-Jo-Wilfried Tsonga (France) bt Ernests Gulbis (Latvia) 6-3, 6-2; Vince Spadea (US) bt Mischa Zverev (Germany) 6-3, 7-5; 1-Lleyton Hewitt (Australia) bt Jose Acasuso (Argentina) 6-2, 6-2; 3-Jarkko Nieminen (Finland) bt Frank Dancevic (Canada) 6-4, 6-1.—Reuters
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