Schnyder Wins All-Swiss Encounter to Move into Quarterfinals

Eleventh-seeded Patty Schnyder of Switzerland defeated compatriot Martina Hingis, 6-1, 6-7 (4), 6-3 to advance to the quarterfinals of the Acura Classic.

In a late afternoon match on Stadium Court at the La Costa Resort and Spa, Schnyder began the match by dropping serve, but rebounded to sweep the next six games in a row to win the set in 26 minutes.

In the second set, despite six service breaks, the score was tied at 5-5. Hingis held serve to take a 6-5 lead and then Schnyder held serve to send the set into a tiebreaker.

Hingis fell behind 2-0 to open the tiebreak, but came back to capture six of the next eight points for a 6-2 lead. On set point, Schnyder sent the match into a third set when her backhand landed past the baseline.

As the sun was setting, Hingis used an early service break to take a 3-1 lead as she took command of the match and look on her way to a victory. But Schnyder stormed back to take control as she won the final five games to win the match.

Schnyder was so dominant that when she served for the match at 5-3, she opened the game with a service winner, followed by a backhand down the line winner and a forehand cross court winner to get to match point.

She then spun in a 99 mph serve down the middle for an ace to end the match, which took 2 hours and 36 minutes.

“Mentally and physically I was a little bit tougher,” Schnyder said. “It was a great match. The first set was probably the best set I’ve played all year. I’m really feeling good now. ”

• Schnyder advances to a quarterfinal match against Nadia Petrova.
• Schnyder now lead Hingis 3-2 in career head-to-head meetings.
• Schnyder is making her fifth career Acura Classic appearance. She reached the semifinals in 2006.
• Schnyder improves her 2007 match record to 28-15.
• Schnyder has represented Switzerland in the Olympics and Fed Cup play.
• Hingis is ranked 13th in the world.
• Hingis was making her seventh career Acura Classic appearance. She won titles here in 1997 and 1999.
• Hingis has won 43 career tour titles including five Grand Slam singles titles.
• Hingis has represented Switzerland in the Olympics and Fed Cup play.

For more match summaries, please click here.