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The Honolulu Advertiser
Updated at 9:24 a.m., Saturday, February 9, 2008

Tennis: Szavay, Chakvetadze reach final in Paris

Associated Press

PARIS — Top-seeded Anna Chakvetadze rallied to defeat Marion Bartoli 2-6, 6-2, 6-0 today and will face Agnes Szavay in the final of the Open Gaz de France.

The Russian cruised through the third set, breaking Wimbledon finalist Bartoli three times. Chakvetadze converted her first match point after a backhand into the net by Bartoli.

Chakvetadze lost her serve twice in the first set, landing only 39 percent of her first serves.

Chakvetadze and the third-seeded Bartoli each needed the trainer for massages in the second set. The players traded breaks until Chakvetadze managed to hold her serve for a 3-2 lead before breaking her French opponent in the next game with a forehand winner down the line.

Seventh-seeded Szavay outlasted fourth-seeded Elena Dementieva 6-3, 1-6, 7-5.

"Agnes was playing a smart game," Dementieva said. "She was mixing up a lot. I think she has a good chance to win this tournament because she's in good shape."

The Hungarian converted her first match point after a forehand error from Dementieva.

"She really likes (it) when somebody is hitting flat against her and she never misses on those balls," Szavay said. "So I tried to mix it up a little bit and it worked."

At 5-4 in the third set, Dementieva was serving for the match but couldn't finish it off, firing a backhand wide to let Szavay break back.

"It was the big moment of the match," Dementieva said. "I couldn't hold my serve. I had lots of opportunities to finish the match but I just didn't use them."

A long backhand return from Dementieva gave Szavay the first set. Out of frustration, Dementieva slammed her racket against the ground after four double-faults in the set.

"I feel like I made too many unforced errors today," Dementieva said. "I was rushing a lot. I was trying to go for the winner. But I wasn't prepared for it. As a result, I was missing a lot."

Dementieva fought back in the second set, raising her level while Szavay made a string of unforced errors.

Dementieva broke Szavay three times for a 5-1 lead before saving two break points in the next game.

"She played really well in the second set," Szavay said. "I was a little bit passive. So she pushed me down on the court. But in the third set, I could come back and play my game."