Tennis: Davenport to face Schnyder in final
ZURICH, Oct 22: Top seed Lindsay Davenport will play Patty Schnyder in the final of the Zurich Open after the American beat Russian seventh seed Anastasia Myskina 6-0 6-4 on Saturday.
Schnyder moved a step closer to winning her second Zurich Open title with a 6-2 6-1 victory over Serb teenager Ana Ivanovic.
Davenport has now won all 10 semi-finals she has played this season and she has never failed to reach the title match in Zurich in the six years she has played the event.
The American overpowered a frustrated Myskina in the first set with her big serve and heavy forehand.
Although the second set was more competitive, Davenport withstood a late challenge from Myskina.
The Russian recovered from 4-2 down to level the set before surrendering to Davenport just a few minutes later.
Sixth-seeded Schnyder won her home-town event in 2002 and reached the final despite complaining about the court, the balls and the lack of support from the home fans.
Schnyder began tentatively and allowed Ivanovic to dictate play in the early stages.
But once the Swiss had saved a break point against her with a thundering forehand in the fourth game, she broke Ivanovic to lead 3-2.
The Serb struggled after that, often under-hitting and making a succession of unforced errors.
Schnyder mixed her game up well with lobs, slice, drop-shots and took the set when her opponent put an easy volley into the net.
The loss of the set appeared to take the fight out of Ivanovic and Schnyder charged through the second with ease.
Results: (Quarterfinals) (Friday): Patty Schnyder (SUI) bt Flavia Pennetta (ITA) 2-6, 6-4, 6-2; Lindsay Davenport (USA) bt Francesca Schiavone (ITA) 6-4, 4-6, 6-4
Semifinal results: Lindsay Davenport (United States) bt Anastasia Myskina (Russia) 6-0 6-4; Patty Schnyder (Switzerland) bt Ana Ivanovic (Serbia and Montenegro) 6-2 6-1.—Agencies