Hantuchova defeats Dementieva

ZURICH, Switzerland (AP) -- American qualifier Alexandra Stevenson stunned fifth-seeded Jelena Dokic with 16 aces on Thursday at the US$1.2 million Swisscom Challenge to reach her second quarterfinals in as many weeks.

Earlier, seventh-seeded Daniela Hantuchova saved four match points to defeat Russia's Elena Dementieva in a three-hour marathon.

The 28th-ranked Stevenson, who reached the quarterfinals at Filderstadt last week before falling to Hantuchova, outlasted the world No. 6 player 7-6 (6), 4-6, 7-5 in two hours, 14 minutes.

"It wasn't very good tennis, I had a lot of errors," said Stevenson, who made 19 double faults. "But I pulled it out and that's good. In the third set I was happy to serve well, that was the plan."

It was a match marked by repeated lost opportunities for both players.

After squandering two set points at 15-40 and 5-4 in the opening set, Dokic went on to lose the tiebreak.

In the second session, the Yugoslav appeared more concentrated, breaking to jump ahead 4-3, then holding serve to even the sets.

The two players stayed neck-and-neck in the final set, with Stevenson wasting three break points at 3-2 and Dokic going to deuce four times at 4-4.

However, trailing 15-40 at 5-6, Dokic began taking risks, and subsequently saved a first match point with a beautiful backhand down the line. She saved a second match point before letting her hard-fought comeback go to waste, allowing Stevenson to take the advantage, then losing the match the very next point on a double fault.

The victory was sweet for Stevenson, who lost in three sets to Dokic the last time they met in the round of 16 just over a month ago in Montreal.

Stevenson has toppled several top names this season, including Amanda Coetzer and Elena Dementieva, and twice upset Jennifer Capriati.

Dokic's defeat was another blow for tournament organizers, who have lost several of their top stars.

France's Amelie Mauresmo, featured in the evening's showcase match against local favorite Patty Schnyder, withdrew due to a knee injury that has cast doubt on her participation at the season-ending Championships.

The previous day, veteran Conchita Martinez proved there was still a lot of fight left in her, dispatching top-seeded Capriati in straight sets.

Martina Hingis, Serena Williams and Anna Kournikova all pulled out just prior to the start of the tournament.

Stevenson will face Martinez in the round of eight.

"She's a good player, she's been on the Tour forever," Stevenson said of the Spaniard. "I have to be ready for her. She's smart and she'll do everything she can to win."

Hantuchova rallied back from a first set loss to stun her Russian opponent 3-6, 7-6 (4), 7-6 (6) in two hours, 53 minutes.

"It was one of the longest matches I've ever played and it's never happened to me, saving four match points to win. So it means a lot, fighting back like that," Hantuchova said. "It's given me a lot of confidence.

"In the first set I wasn't playing my tennis. But it's about focusing on the next point. I never gave up. All players hate losing but especially me."

Looking unconvincing in the opening set and down 5-3 in the second, Hantuchova suddenly came to life, destabilizing her Russian rival.

Down 40-15, Hantuchova rallied to make deuce, and though Dementieva took the advantage twice, she was unable to conclude. The Russian then double-faulted at 40-40 and Hantuchova was able to get her serve back the very next point with a lucky net-shot that teetered on the strip before dropping over onto the Russian's side of the court.

Hantuchova, more consistent in the tie-break, was then able to even the sets.

The contest remained tight in the final set as neither of the weary players were able to gain control or break the other's serve, with Dementieva failing to convert three break points at 3-3 and another at 5-5.

Down 6-3 in the tiebreak, Dementieva rallied back to save all three match points, but lost a fourth at 7-6 when she charged forward and hit the ball into the net.

"It was a good lesson for me. A hard lesson but a good lesson," Dementieva said. "It's never happened to me before, losing the match after having four match points."

Hantuchova faces either Schnyder or lucky loser Elena Bovina of Russia in the quarterfinals.

In other second-round action, sixth-seeded Kim Clijsters trounced Amanda Coetzer 6-1, 6-1.

 

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