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| Schnyder Joins Clijsters in Final (Tennis) | |
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 Palo Alto, July 29, 2006 – At the 2005 Gold Coast, Patty Schnyder (SUI) defeated Tatiana Golovin (FRA) in three sets in their first and only meeting. Tonight’s Bank of the West Classic semifinal match between the two was a chance for Golovin to even the score, but she didn’t get the result she was looking for. Despite mounting a major first-set comeback, lefty Schnyder hung tough and prevailed. She disposed of Golovin in straight sets, 7-6 (4), 6-1 to join defending champion Kim Clijsters in Sunday’s final.
Schnyder jumped to an early 3-0 lead before her opponent found her footing. It took three tries, but Golovin finally converted a game point to get on the board at 3-1. Although Schnyder held for 4-1, the momentum suddenly took a drastic turn. Golovin began to dominate, taking the next three games without facing a single game point. Tied at 4-4, the match evened out, and both players consistently held serve to force the first set into a tiebreaker that would parallel the events of the previous 12 games.
In the tiebreaker, Golovin quickly raced to a 3-0 lead. Schnyder responded in kind by winning the next three points, and the match equalized once again. With a double fault, Golovin gave Schnyder the edge as quickly as she took it away. Although unsuccessfully challenged by Schnyder, Golovin’s inside-out forehand winner on the line tied brought the match to a tie once more at 4-4 before Schnyder was able to put the first set to rest, 6-6 (7-4).
“The first set could have gone either way,” said Schnyder after the match. “I felt some nerves coming and missed too many balls. She played very solid and was up 3-0 in the tiebreaker, but I turned it around and it was a lucky pullout.”
The tiebreaker seemed to boost Schnyder’s confidence but exhaust Golovin. Golovin held to win the first game of the second set, but she was soon down 4-1 once again. The fans rallied behind her, encouraging a second comeback, but much to the dismay of the crowd, Golovin wouldn’t take another game from the tournament’s second seed.
Afterwards, Golovin said, “I was very impressed by the way (Schnyder) played. I had to give everything I had to get the tie-break and had my chance, up 3-0, but when I lost that set, I just ran out of gas.”
Schnyder won second set 6-1, facing only one break point. With this win, Schnyder advances to her second tournament final this season (Charleston).
“I know I am the clear underdog and (Kim Clijsters) is the favorite,” said Schnyder. “I’m just happy I got to the final and to still be here and have a chance to win. I didn’t lose too much energy tonight. I’ll just try my best and see how far I can push her.”
Clijsters owns a career 4-2 record against the world’s No. 8 player Schnyder and is 2-0 against Schnyder on hard court. If Schnyder wins, it will be her first tournament title since July 2005 (Cincinnati).
Other results from today:
Singles Semifinals:
Kim Clijsters (1) def. Nicole Vaidisova, 7-5, 6-2
Doubles Semifinals:
Maria Elena Camerin/Gisela Dulko def. Bethanie Mattek/Sania Mirza, 6-4, 6-3
Anna-Lena Groenefeld/Shahar Peer vs. Marion Bartoli/Marta Domachowska
Title Pic: Sania Mirza
Photographs: Edwin Suarez
© CityAthletes.com
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