Davenport reaches Swisscom semis

ZURICH, Switzerland (AP) -- Defending champion and second-seeded Lindsay Davenport took advantage of Kim Clijsters' run-down form to win 6-3, 7-6 (5) on Friday and secure her place in the semifinals of the $1,224,000 Swisscom Challenge.

Local favorite Patty Schnyder sent the home crowd into a frenzy, rallying back from a one-set deficit to upset seventh-seeded Daniela Hantuchova of Slovakia 6-7 (5), 6-3, 7-6 (5). Fourth-seeded Justine Henin also advanced with a business-as-usual 7-5, 6-2 win over another Swiss, Marie-Gaianeh Mikaelian.

The victory was an important confidence booster for Davenport, who has slowly been coming back from a knee injury. The former world No. 1 and three-time Grand Slam winner was sidelined for eight months, undergoing rehab for a surgically repaired right knee, and returned to the Tour in July this summer. She is currently 10th in the WTA rankings.

"It's funny to be the underdog now because I've rarely been in that position since getting to No. 1 so it's a bonus," the 26-year-old Davenport said. "But I still feel I can be at the top if I play full-time. And a tough win like this gives me lots of confidence."

Clijsters, who saved five match points before finally surrendering to the American, attributed the loss to a recent virus.

"I wasn't feeling 100 percent," said Clijsters, who won the final at Filderstadt last week despite battling illness. "I'm over [the virus] now but everything together the last few weeks has taken a lot out of me."

Davenport stamped her authority on the match early on, breaking to go 3-2, then sealing the set with another break at 15-40, 5-3 when Clijsters sent a forehand shot wide.

Clijsters often looked in danger in the second set, barely saving a break point on her opening serve.

The two players traded breaks midway through the set, with Clijsters saving a first match point to stay on serve 5-5. The Belgian accumulated two break points the next game but was unable to convert, then simply held serve to force the tiebreak.

Clijsters appeared headed for a trouncing, with Davenport jumping ahead 6-1. But the scrappy Belgian rallied to save four more match points before returning one of Davenport's trademark whopping serves into the net.

"I didn't play my best but neither did Kim," Davenport said. "I think she was tired after so many matches."

Currently 14th in the Masters Race standings -- with only the top 16 qualifying -- Davenport could lock up a berth this week.

The American has always excelled in Zurich, winning back-to-back titles in 1997 and 1998 and tournaments in nearby Lucerne in 1993 and 1994. Her record at the Zurich tournament is 17-1, with her only loss coming against Martina Hingis in the final in 2000.

Davenport plays Henin in Saturday's semifinal. The American has won their last four meetings.

"It's tough because I've never beaten her. She's a great player. It's not because she was injured that it won't be difficult," Henin said. "I'll need to be aggressive and serve well and my return will be key."

Schnyder, supported by a loud partisan crowd, was able to rally from a set down to even the sets.

The players traded breaks at 1-1 in the final session, with Schnyder then gaining the advantage, taking Hantuchova's serve to go 3-2.

The Slovakian reclaimed her serve to even the games 4-4, and both women held on, sending the match into a nail-biting tiebreak.

Schnyder had the crowd thundering its joy as she went ahead 4-2 and then later 6-4, serving for the match. Hantuchova made a mini-break, saving a first match point to narrow the gap to 6-5 but Schnyder, looking cool and collected, kept her nerve as the Slovak defeated herself, hitting the ball wide on the next point.

"It was incredible. I played a superb third set. Everything went my way from winning shots to the crowd," Schnyder said. "It's been an extraordinary week for me here. There's a lot of emotion in me and from the public."

Hantuchova, who made 88 unforced errors, was irritated.

"I didn't play my best," she said. "I had my chances, but she played better and better. I didn't finish properly and made too many mistakes."

Earlier, veteran Conchita Martinez, who squashed top-seeded Jennifer Capriati in straight sets to reach the quarterfinals, defeated American qualifier Alexandra Stevenson 7-5, 7-5.

Martinez next faces Schnyder.

 

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