im bored so will give updates while i finish my gin.

Dani has a bp to go a double break up 0-3

But Peer holds. 2-1 Hantuchova serving with a break. I really hope she goes on to win this tournament

Dani holds for 3-1, currently at 82% first serves in, Peer at 40%

Both women could cut back a bit on errors, but so far the ball-striking has been fierce. Peer's first serve hasn't really shown up for her either, in contrast to Hantuchova, who has been serving as well as I've seen her do. I think Hantuchova will hang onto her early break advantage for the set, but the second set is anyone's for the taking based on how they've done so far.

It was a good match-up on paper and looks to be on court as well.

Dani breaks to love and will serve for the set 5-2

Are you watching this? Is it on sky at all?

first set Dani 6-2 :yahoo:

Yes, but not on Sky.

Peer is fighting but still not hitting cleanly enough, and Hantuchova (who has been steady and relentless) gets the double break and serves it out with panache to take the first set 6-2.

Are you watching it on Star Sports of CCTV5?

Sorry I couldn't be more helpful regarding live streams or the like. ESPN2 on satellite--should I mention I'm Stateside? Heh.

It looks like serving will be the big factor in this match. Hantuchova has just been excellent thus far, her first serve at 74% in the first set and not missing a single first serve in her opening service game in the second. Peer is playing some great defence, but she's being made to work on her own service games, in which she has yet to crack 50% on her first serve.

But the Israeli just had a strong hold to 30 and leads 2-1 in the second set.

Can't you say where you are watching it Manzi?

I love Peer - I so want her to win this, but I think Daniella will have a damn good run here. If Peer doesn't win this match then I want Daniella to go all the way and win her 2nd IW title. She deserves it so much.

Since Daniella has had her new coach (same as Sveta's), she's improved 100% don't ya think?

I was impressed with her display at AO. She has had so much thrown at her the last few years i really hope she can let her tennis do the talking now and get back in the top ten

(I edited a post up there to clarify viewing details, btw.)

That was an engrossing battle on Peer's service game just now. Hantuchova has been creating some excellent angles from both wings, earning herself two break points, but Peer has been just fearless under pressure and got herself out of trouble to lead 3-2.

Peer has done well to cut back on her errors, and is hanging tough with Hantuchova now, although serving is still the clear difference and advantage for the latter. She would do well to close it out now, because Peer seems like she's getting stronger with each game and a third set could well go her way.

Well, it's clear I spoke too soon, as Hantuchova digs a 0-40 hole at the worst possible time. She saves two break points with strong serving but can't save a third, and Peer goes up 4-2.

She's letting her level slip a bit, but based on this performance (and what I saw of her match against Hingis) as well as results of late she has improved quite a bit since last I saw her. Completely different from how she fared against Serena at the USO and Clijsters at the AO (although she tested her in the second set), where she she just played so negatively. I hadn't known she found a new coach but I'm sure that's a factor in her turnaround.

Peer can hardly get a first serve in now she is serving for the set. I hope Dani breaks back then i wont need another gin :lol:

Peer nearly managed a straightforward hold for the set at 40-30, but Hantuchova stepped up a gear even as Peer got too tentative. Two set points and two break points each, and Hantuchova is the first to convert with some patient, deep groundstrokes which ultimately get the better of Peer.

5-4 Peer yet. Hantuchova with a crucial hold to keep the second set alive.

Peer is clearly frustrated with herself for letting the second set slip out of her grasp, and doesn't make a dent on the Hantuchova serve as the Slovak holds to love to level the set at 5-all.

Thay have won pretty much the same percentage of points on first and second serves, yet dani is getting double the first serves in than Peer, which means nothing at all really roflmao roflmao

Oh crap 3 set points Peer, looks like another gins in order :P

Well, much like she did against Chakvetadze, Peer makes amends for missing out on her first chance to take the set by creating another, with a sensational return winner coupled with loose points and shaky serving (at the worst possible moment!) from Hantuchova enabling her to break to love to even the match at 2-6, 7-5.

Yeah, another gin would be in order I'd say. =P This has the potential to go the distance.

Peer has taken the momentum. She's boosted her first-serve percentage, and Hantuchova is letting opportunities on Peer's serve pass her by too often, between not being as aggressive as she was earlier, as well as having let too many errors start to creep into her game.

Peer leads 2-1 in the third.

It looked like Hantuchova was on the way out after being broken to trail 1-3, but in a hard-fought game she got the break back, then rallied to first hold then break again and put herself in a strong position 4-3 in the third.

Good to see her not get down on herself and stage a fightback, since her history is often to just fade away when she forfeits her advantage. Peer isn't going anywhere yet, however.

That was a fittingly dramatic end to a tight match full of twists and turns and clocking just shy of three hours: a third set tiebreaker, in which Hantuchova came from behind to edge Peer out 6-2, 5-7, 7-6(5).

She actually served for the match at 5-4, but the pressure told (in fact she got a time violation at 30-all!) and in yet another momentum shift Peer took the lead again 6-5. The tiebreaker was fraught with tension and heartstopping rallies, with first Hantuchova up a minibreak and then Peer, who looked certain to emerge triumphant whilst serving to go up 6-4. Instead Hantuchova fought and earned the final minibreak of the tiebreaker to get even 5-all, and served strongly to give herself a match point for 6-5. (Unfortunately it was a bit controversial, as a return from Peer was judged out but on replay looked to have caught a bit of paint; really Peer should have challenged, given she had one remaining and it was clearly a close call. If you're not going to challenge in a third-set tiebreaker at 5-all with a semifinal spot in a Tier I on the line, when are you going to challenge?!) Nevertheless she only had herself to blame when serving to stay in the match, with some poor shotmaking and ultimately a mishit forehand that flew well wide, handing Hantuchova the match.

It will be Li v Hantuchova for the top half semifinal, then, one which will probably have a host of winners and unforced errors. I would have favoured Hantuchova in such a match-up, but Li looked very strong against Zvonareva today and Hantuchova displayed traces of her characteristic vulnerability at key moments. But well done to both women for joining the final four and best of luck to each.

Thanks for the magnificant report :clap:

Dani won!! :yahoo: :yahoo:

Enjoyed the commentary/ report, thanks for that!!

Sounds like a good match!! :ok:

I love Peer, but i really like Dani too :D her tennis has been so-so for such a longtime, but it seems finally she's getting that deadly 02 consistency back :D