STANFORD, Calif. (www.BankOfTheWestClassic.com) –Qualifiers Aleksandra Wozniak and Samantha Stosur highlighted Thursday action with upset victories to advance to the quarterfinals where they will square off for the second time at the Bank of the West Classic at the Taube Family Tennis Center on the campus of Stanford University.
Ironically, earlier in the week Wozniak knocked off Stosur in straight sets, 6-4, 6-2 in the final round of qualifying which sets up a rare re-match between the two qualifiers on Friday. Stosur was the lucky loser replacing Davenport after she withdrew from the tournament due to a knee injury.
Additionally, the match up guarantees that a qualifier will reach the semifinal round since Maria Vento-Kabchi accomplished the feat in 2003.
Stosur ripped off 10 aces including three in the final game on her way to a suprising straight-set, 6-3, 6-2, win over third-seeded and No. 11 in the world Vera Zvonareva.
“I haven’t done that before,” said Stosur, referring to her re-match with Wozniak. “I guess it’s a good opportunity to try to redeem myself after my loss on Monday. She has been playing very well having won two matches in the main draw so I have to be on top of my game.”
Meanwhile, Wozniak opened the day’s action by clinching a spot in the quarterfinals with a 6-4, 7-5 victory over Austrian Sybille Bammer.
“I have more time on the court and I’m getting used to the heat,” said Wozniak who was playing for the sixth-straight day. “Obviously I still feel good and I am looking forward to tomorrow night.”
In a tournament that has already seen upsets over four of the top eight seeds, the day marked a stronger showing for the top players as No. 5 Patty Schnyder and No. 6 Marion Bartoli advanced.
Bartoli suffered the biggest scare of the day needing to grind out a three-set, 6-3, 1-6, 7-5 win over British No. 1 Anne Keothavong. The 2007 Wimbledon finalist capitalized on three double faults and a break in the second game to jump out to an early 1-0 lead.
After each player held serve in the opening two games of the second set, Keothavong stormed back to run off five straight games and even the match at two games apiece.
Keothavong continued her momentum into the deciding set and was in command throughout taking a 4-1 lead. However, Bartoli, the No. 15 in the world, regained control to take six of the next seven games to secure a meeting with second-seed and defending champion Anna Chakvetadze.
Schnyder, a tour veteran, outlasted Alisa Kleybanova in straight-sets, 7-6, 6-4. The decision clinches a fourth consecutive quarterfinal appearance for the Swiss Olympian and sets up a battle with tournament top seed and eight-time Grand Slam champion Serena Williams Friday afternoon.
In doubles action, two teams secured their spot in the semifinals.The tandem of Alisa Kleybanova and Monica Niculescu topped the Japanese Olympic duo of Ayumi Morita and Ai Sugiyama, 6-1, 6-4. In the nightcap, the No.1 doubles team in the world, Cara Black and Liezel Huber, cruised to a 6-3, 6-4 win over Eva Hrdinova and Vladimira Uhlirova.
For more information, or to purchase tickets, call the box office at 866-WTA-TIXS (866-982-8497) or log on to www.BankoftheWestClassic.com.
The Bank of the West Classic, a Sony Ericsson WTA Tour event, will be played July 14-20 at the Taube Family Tennis Stadium at Stanford University and features a 28-player singles draw as well as a 16-team doubles draw. The event is owned and operated by IMG and serves as the opening women’s event of the Olympus US Open Series.
ABOUT THE BANK OF THE WEST CLASSIC: The Bank of the West Classic is the longest-running women-only professional tennis tournament in the world and is the first stop of the US Open Series. A Sony Ericsson WTA Tour Tier II event, the Bank of the West Classic features a 28-player singles draw and a 16-team doubles draw with total prize money of $600,000. Held on Stanford University’s campus at the Taube Family Tennis Stadium since 1997, former champions include: Billie Jean King, Chris Evert, Martina Navratilova, Andrea Jaeger, Monica Seles, Martina Hingis, Lindsay Davenport and Venus Williams. The Bank of the West Classic is owned and operated by IMG.
ABOUT BANK OF THE WEST: Founded in 1874 and headquartered in San Francisco, $62 billion-asset Bank of the West is the second-largest commercial bank based in California. Bank of the West offers a full range of business, trust, international and personal banking services. The bank currently operates more than 700 commercial and retail banking locations in 19 Western and Midwestern states. In 2008, Bank of the West ranked “Highest in Customer Satisfaction among Retail Banks in the West” by J.D. Power and Associates. Bank of the West's holding company, BancWest Corporation, is owned by BNP Paribas, a leading global financial services institution ranked by Standard & Poor's as one of the world's four strongest banks. More information is available at www.bankofthewest.com.
MAIN DRAW SINGLES AGATE (7/17/08)
Singles – Second Round
Aleksandra Wozniak (CAN) d. Sybille Bammer (AUT) 6-4, 7-5
Patty Schnyder (SUI) d. Alisa Kleybanova (RUS) 7-6 (8), 6-4
Marion Bartoli (FRA) d. Anne Keothavong (GBR) 6-3, 1-6, 7-5
Samantha Stosur (AUS) d. Vera Zvonareva (RUS) 6-3, 6-2
MAIN DRAW DOUBLES AGATE (7/17/08)
Doubles – Quarterfinals
Alisa Kleybanova (RUS)/Monica Niculescu (ROU) d. Ayumi Morita (JPN)/Ai Sugiyama (JPN) 6-1, 6-4
Cara Black (ZIM)/Liezel Huber (USA) d. Eva Hrdinova (CZE)/Vladimira Uhlirova (CZE) 6-3, 6-4