Second seed Daniela Hantuchova earned a dramatic victory on Wednesday to slip into the quarter-finals of the Pilot Pen WTA and ATP tournament.
The 25-year-old Slovakian fought off three match points at the Connecticut Tennis Center before prevailing 3-6, 6-2, 7-6 (7/4) over Belarusian Olga Govortsova in two hours and 29 minutes.
Hantuchova was slow respond to the unexpected danger posed by her powerful opponent, who is ranked 48th in the world. The slender Slovakian fell 3-5 in the ensuing set but battled through.
PHOTO: AFP
“I had to dig deep. If I can get through those kind of matches, I can get through anything,” the 12th-ranked Slovakian said.
Hantuchova is now bound to meet French teenager Alize Cornet, who earlier beat Slovenian Katarina Srebotnik in a though three-set battle 7-6 (7/3), 4-6, 6-2.
Also on Wednesday, Frenchwomen Amelie Mauresmo, a former world No. 1 and two-time Grand Slam champion, looked defeat in the eyes, having to save a match point to overcome Swiss Veteran Patty Schnyder, the No. 5 seed. Top-seeded Anna Chakvetadze dumped Australia’s Casey Dellacqua 6-4, 6-4.
PHOTO: AFP
Despite the loss, the Aussie No. 1 remained upbeat about her chances at the US Open, the last Grand Slam of the year which starts next Monday in New York.
“The thing I’m most proud of this year is that I’ve remained consistent throughout,” the 44th-ranked Dellacqua said.
“My goal was to break the top-50. I’ve done that. The rest of the year is bonus for me,” she said.
On the men’s side, big serving Croat Ivo Karlovic, the No. 2 seed, was the major casualty on day four, dismissed in three tense, hard-fought sets 7-6 (7/4), 4-6, 6-2 by Slovenian qualifier Luka Gregorc, a 24-year-old journeyman who has added a genuine dash of intrigue to the men’s draw.
Asked how he felt at the end of the biggest victory of his career, Gregorc responded: “Joy, satisfaction, it’s been a busy summer. We worked so hard. It’s nice to see it’s paying off.”
In other men’s action, top-seeded Fernando Verdasco of Spain steamrolled Ivo Mirnar of the Czech Republic 6-3, 6-1 in 53 minutes, fourth-seeded Russian Igor Andreev sank Romania’s Victor Hanescu and Andreas Seppi tripped Fabio Fognini in an all-Italian showdown 6-4, 6-2.
Eighth-seeded US player Mardy Fish defeated France’s Marc Gicquel 6-4, 6-3.
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