Schnyder Spins Her Way Into Semifinals

It was vintage Patty Schnyder.

The fifth-seeded Schnyder of Switzerland used her variety of spins and slices and changed up her shots throughout the afternoon to dispatch fourth-seeded Elena Dementieva of Russia, 6-4, 6-3. 

During the one hour and 21-minute quarterfinal match on Stadium Court, Schnyder refused to let Dementieva get in a groove as she gave her little pace to work with on her shots.

It was not a good start for Schnyder as she lost her serve to open the match and fell behind 3-1. The Swiss player then won 12 of the next 16 points to take a 4.-3 lead. Schnyder’s looping shots with little pace drew errors from Dementieva.

After Schnyder held serve to take a 5-4 lead, Dementieva served to stay in the set but the Russian was unable to hold serve and lost the set.

Both players stayed on serve in the second set as Schnyder served a love game to take a 4-3 lead. In the eighth game, Dementieva took a 40-15 lead, but Schnyder fought back to take the game to deuce.

Dementieva erased one break point, but on the third deuce point of the game, the Russian stroked a crosscourt backhand long to give Schnyder another break point.

Schnyder took a 5-3 lead when Dementieva lost serve as she sent a backhand long. Serving for the match at 5-4, Schnyder continued to play her game to perfection, frustrating Dementieva into more baseline errors.

The Russian committed four straight unforced errors as Schnyder served out the match a love to advance to the semifinals. 

• Schnyder advances to the semifinals where she will meet second seeded Maria Sharapova.
• Schnyder now leads Dementieva 6-5 in career head-to-head meetings.
• Schnyder is ranked number eight in the world.
• Schnyder is making her fourth career Acura Classic appearance. She reached the quarterfinals last year.
• Schnyder’s 2006 match record improves to 33-15.
• Schnyder reached the semifinals of the 2004 Australian Open.
• Dementieva is ranked sixth in the world.
• Dementieva is now 33-13 in 2006.
• Dementieva was making her seventh career Acura Classic appearance. She reached the semifinals in 2004.

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