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The Honolulu Advertiser
Updated at 8:24 a.m., Friday, February 8, 2008

Tennis: Szavay upsets Hantuchova to reach Paris semis

By TRUNG LATIEULE
Associated Press Writer

PARIS — Agnes Szavay upset second-seeded Daniela Hantuchova of Slovakia 7-6 (4), 6-1 today to advance to the semifinals of the Open Gaz de France.

The seventh-seeded Hungarian will play No. 4 Elena Dementieva of Russia, who beat Kateryna Bondarenko of Ukraine 7-5, 6-2.

Szavay served for the opening set at 6-5, but Hantuchova broke back to force the tiebreaker. Szavay then converted her first set point after Hantuchova netted a service return.

"Szavay was playing really well, especially in the important points of the match," Hantuchova said. "I had a really good start to the match. Then, I didn't hold my serve."

Hantuchova had her right hand bandaged by a trainer at 1-1 in the second set. She dropped serve three times in the set and lost after committing two backhand errors.

"It came yesterday," Hantuchova said of a blister on the hand. "It got bigger during the match. It was bothering me while I was holding the racket."

The medical time out didn't affect Szavay.

"I didn't lose a game afterward," she said. "So it was a good break for me too."

Dementieva saved a set point to level at 5-5 and broke in the next game on Bondarenko's backhand error.

"I saved one set point," Dementieva said. "That was the most important moment of the game. It really gave me so much confidence, winning the first set."

Dementieva broke Bondarenko twice to lead 3-2 and 5-2 in the second set, and hit a forehand winner on her first match point.

Later Friday, Amelie Mauresmo of France plays Anna Chavetadze of Russia and Marion Bartoli takes on Virginie Razzano in an all French matchup.