NEW HAVEN (Connecticut), Aug 21: Former world No 1 Amelie Mauresmo saved a match point before beating fifth seed Patty Schnyder 6-4, 3-6, 7-6 to reach the quarter-finals of the WTA event in New Haven on Wednesday.

The Frenchwoman, looking to climb the rankings from 33rd after an injury-hit year, pushed hard in the final set to continue her recent revival.

“Even if I had lost today I think I would have been pretty satisfied with my performance, if a bit disappointed,” Mauresmo told reporters.

“These are the kind of matches I have been losing in the last year. At some point it affects your confidence, so to win one like this is good and hopefully I can build from here.”

Mauresmo led 4-2 in the final set but Schnyder broke twice and served for the match at 5-4 only for two double-faults to hand Mauresmo a lifeline.

The Swiss then led 6-5 in the tiebreak but could not convert a forehand pass and two points later, netted a backhand to give the twice grand slam winner victory after two hours nine minutes.

Mauresmo will next play fourth seed and last year’s runner-up Agnes Szavay of Hungary.

Top seed Anna Chakvetadze booked her place in the last eight after a routine 6-4, 6-4 win over Australian Casey Dellacqua.

Second seed Daniela Hantuchova had a real struggle, though, saving three match points before beating Olga Govortsova of Belarus 3-6, 6-2, 7-6.

In an error-strewn match, the Slovakian broke back when Govortsova served for the match at 5-3 in the decider and then saved the match points on her serve in the 12th game.

Hantuchova held her nerve to win the resulting tiebreak 7-4 to set up a clash with Denmark’s Caroline Wozniacki in the last eight.

In the men’s event, there was a surprise defeat for second seed Ivo Karlovic, who was bounced out 7-6, 4-6, 6-2 by world No 434 Luka Gregorc.

The Slovenian broke Karlovic’s serve twice in the final set to reach his first tour quarter-final, where he will play Italian seventh seed Andreas Seppi.

At 24, Gregorc is a relatively late bloomer, but the Slovenian is confident he can climb the rankings fast.

“I have been working really hard and playing well but it’s very satisfying to see the results coming now,” he said.

“My first goal is to break into the top 100. Then I can set another goal. Hopefully I can keep going from here.”

Top seed Fernando Verdasco cruised past Czech Ivo Minar 6-3, 6-1 and will play German Mischa Zverev, a 1-6, 6-3, 6-1 winner over American Robby Ginepri.

Fourth seed Igor Andreev of Russia reached the quarter-finals with a 6-4, 7-5 win over Romanian Victor Hanescu, while sixth seed Marin Cilic, eighth seed Mardy Fish, and fellow American and lucky loser Jesse Levine also advanced.

Wednesday’s results (prefix number denotes seeding):

Men’s singles:

Third round: Luka Gregorc (Slovenia) bt 2-Ivo Karlovic (Croatia) 7-6 (7-4), 4-6, 6-2; 1-Fernando Verdasco (Spain) bt Ivo Minar (Czech Republic) 6-3, 6-1; Mischa Zverev (Germany) bt Robby Ginepri (US) 1-6, 6-3, 6-1; Jesse Levine (US) bt Steve Darcis (Belgium) 2-0 – Darcis retired; 6-Marin Cilic (Croatia) bt 11-Juergen Melzer (Austria) 5-7, 6-4, 7-5; 4-Igor Andreev (Russia) bt 16-Victor Hanescu (Romania) 6-4, 7-5; 7-Andreas Seppi (Italy) bt Fabio Fognini (Italy) 6-4, 6-2.

Women’s singles:

Second round: 2-Daniela Hantuchova (Slovakia) bt Olga Govortsova (Belarus) 3-6, 6-2, 7-6 (7-4); 7-Alize Cornet (France) bt Katarina Srebotnik (Slovenia) 7-6 (7-3), 4-6, 6-2; Sorana Cirstea (Romania) bt 6-Flavia Pennetta (Italy) 3-6, 6-4, 6-3; Amelie Mauresmo (France) bt 5-Patty Schnyder (Switzerland) 6-4, 3-6, 7-6 (8-6); Caroline Wozniacki (Denmark) bt Monica Niculescu (Romania) 6-3, 6-3; 1-Anna Chakvetadze (Russia) bt Casey Dellacqua (Australia) 6-4, 6-4.—Reuters