Hantuchova hoping to handle Mauresmo with fast-improving grass
EASTBOURNE, England (AFP)
Top seed Amelie Mauresmo will aim to peg back the growing grass confidence of
surging Slovak Daniela Hantuchova after the pair set up a semi-final showdown
at the 585,000-dollar Eastbourne Championships.
France's Mauresmo battled successfully through a swirling seaside wind on the
south coast, adding a layer of polish to her game with a 6-4, 6-3 defeat of
Magdalena Maleeva.
Hantuchova, fifth in the world just over a year ago, powered through into her
first final-four showing in 16 months with a fighting 6-1, 7-6 (9/7) upset of
Japan's third seed Ai Sugiyama.
The unseeded Slovak last reached the semis in February, 2003, in Antwerp,losing
to Venus Williams.
In the interim, confidence slumped amid reports of an eating disorder, which
she proved wrong by gaining a few much-needed kilograms and lifting the level
of her game in recent weeks.
"I really got my confidence back in the first set today," she said of an
effort where she won the first five games. "I could do what I wanted on court
- it was great to have that winning feeling again."
The 21-year-old said that the Mauresmo match will be her toughest challenge
yet with Wimbledon starting Monday.
"It's going to be a tough one, she's a very experienced player and grass is
one of her favourite surfaces. It will be a good match and I'm good looking
forward to it a lot."
World number four Mauresmo, playing at Devonshire Park for the first time
during her Wimbledon tune-up, pronounced herself pleased with the quarter-final
effort over Maleeva.
But conditions made the victory in 1hr 17min a true test.
"It was hard to control the ball and produce high-level tennis," said the
winner after notching her fifth win from six meetings with Bulgaria's Maleeva.
The victory was a repeat of a victory taken by Mauresmo in the fourth-round at
Roland Gaaros just a few weeks ago.
"I haven't played Daniela for the past few years, but she seems to be coming
back strongly," said Mauresmo, holder of a dozen career trophys, including
Berlin and Rome on clay this spring.
"She's had some good wins here. I'll just focus on my game, go forward to the
net and try to get ready for next week."
Mauresmo was never in true danger, but did have to save four break points to
serve out the first set against Maleeva, a 2003 quarter-finalist here.
The French favourite earned a 2-1 lead in the second set as she came out
ahead in a run of service breaks, carrying on with a concluding break to
claim the match.
"It wasn't all high-level tennis, You have no choice but to go out and do
your best. It can be tough and very frustrating," said Mauresmo.
"Apart from the wind, there were some good points and rallies," she said.
"I've been trying to serve and volley. My game is coming together.
"There are still a few things to adjust, but I'm pretty happy with the whole
picture."
Number two seed Svetlana Kusnetsova rallied for a come-back over Slovenian
Tina Pisnik earning a 3-6, 6-2, 6-3 win.
Vera Zvonareva made it an all-Russian semi at the bottom by overcoming Maria
Sanchez Lorenzo of Spain 6-3, 6-0.
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