Semifinal results Porsche Tennis Grand Prix


Photo: TeamWTA

By Etienne Stekelenburg
October 9 2004

No.1 Amelie Mauresmo of France defeats No.5 Russian Svetlana Kuznetsova 7-5, 6-4. And No.2 Lindsay Davenport of USA beats No.4 Anastasia Myskina of Russia 6-2, 6-4 in Saturdays’ semifinals of the Porsche Tennis Grand Prix in Filderstadt.

It took up till the 11th game before the first service break occurred. Kuznetsova held breakpoints in the sixth game but could not take advantage of her 0-40 lead.

 

Kuznetsova is missing her shots and the unforced errors give Mauresmo the chance to lead the first set. At 15 all Mauresmo drives a backhand winner past Kuznetsova, the Russian hit a backhand long for 30-40 and another one giving Mauresmo the break she was aiming for. “My first breakpoint gave me a lot of confidence, I know the first set was the key-moment of the match.

 

Mauresmo’s serves were not very good and a bit unpredictable. “I wanted to take the serves pretty easy but that didn’t work”, she said.

 

Leading 6-5 Mauresmo needs to hold serve to win the first set. After 40 love, winning the point with a forehand volley, Mauresmo hits an ace to take the game and the set. The French No.1 leads one set to love in 44 minutes of play.

 

Kuznetsova looking for way to take the match into her own hands breaks Mauresmo in the second service game, holding on her own service she leads 3-0 in the second set.

 

Mauresmo takes her lost game back in the 5th service game and she breaks again in the 7th game for a 4-3 lead winning her own she leads 5-3 and looks on her way to victory defending her No.1 spot. “I knew I could break her back, it was possible”, Mauresmo said filled with confidence.

 

 

Mauresmo seems to tank for winning her own service game and the match when Kuznetsova takes her game on love for 5-4. Mauresmo serving for the match takes the right precautions serving a winner for 15-0, hitting another winner for 30-0. For 40-0 she is hitting a winner with an overhead smash and not wasting too much time anymore she takes the next point for game set and match. The French No.1 defeats the No.5 in two sets 7-5, 6-4 in 1 hour and 23 minutes

 

Now that Amelie Mauresmo took her step into the final of the Porsche Tennis Grand Prix she still holds on to her No.1 ranking. “It's not that important to defend my No.1 spot, I would like to keep it but it's not that important”, she said still holding the top spot she might be handing it over to Lindsay Davenport later.

 

Lindsay Davenport also took a step closer to winning the Porsche Tennis Grand Prix this year. In 58 minutes the American defeats Anastasia Myskina of Russia in two sets, 6-2, 6-4.

 

Myskina was having trouble holding her serve and was broken three times in the first set. With breaking Davenport in the her first service game and holding on to her service in the 7th game she got her two points, Davenport ended up with six and won the first set in 22 minutes.

 

Myskina started off better in the second when she held her serve, breaking Davenport and holding on to her own service again. She lead 4-2 before Davenport is giving some extra and takes Myskina’s service in the 7th and the 9th game. With holding on to her own service she takes the second set and the match 40-0 including her third ace in 58 minutes. “It was a good win against such a high ranked player as Myskina, I knew there always is an opportunity to break Myskina with her serve”, Davenport said about the way she won the match today.

 

Davenport said she is excited to play Mauresmo tomorrow, “she is playing great and in great shape”, she added. “I am also excited about this great season I am having. I am focused on the next five weeks, I am not focused taking the No.1 spot again, it would be nice though.”

 

On the final on Sunday Davenport said: “I am not extra motivated to take the No.1 spot later but it would be nice to drive away with the Porsche”. Being her second since she already has one in her garage, winning it in 2001 when she defeated Justine Henin-Hardenne in the final.

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