Big guns keep falling in Switzerland

Henin, Kuznetsova, Bartoli only seeds left in Zurich draw

FROM THE ZURICH OPEN - Who says the Sony Ericsson WTA Tour has no depth? After the second round at the season’s last Tier I event in Zurich, only three seeds are left standing: the world’s top two ranked players, Justine Henin and Svetlana Kuznetsova, plus Marion Bartoli, who only earned her seeding after Maria Sharapova’s late withdrawal.

On Thursday, Daniela Hantuchova, who struggled with a cold, became the latest casualty of the seeds’ exodus. The Slovakian, who started this week as the No.9 player in the race rankings, fell to the fast-rising Agnieszka Radwanska from Poland, 6-3 6-3. Hantuchova has signed up at the last minute for Linz next week, in a desperate attempt to qualify for the year-end championships in Madrid.

Radwanska, who upset Maria Sharapova in the third round of the US Open, will next face Henin. The Belgian needed some time to find her game against Vera Zvonareva, but after winning the first set 6-3, there was no stopping the No.1. Henin played a class above the rest of the field this week in her second set against Zvonareva, as she breezed through, 6-3 6-1. With most of the seeds gone, she is looking like a lock for the title.

In the night match, Kuznetsova had to dig out of a hole to secure her spot among the last eight. The Russian quickly fell behind 4-0 and lost the opening set to Sybille Bammer, 6-2. In the second set, both players exchanged breaks twice, before Bammer moved ahead to a 4-2 lead. Not having held serve the entire set, and going down 0-30, Kuznetsova was eyeing an early exit. She faced two break points that game, but on both occasions, Bammer produced an error. Kuzy held serve and won the next three games, to take the set, 6-4. In the final set, a single break at 6-5 was enough for the win.

With so many marquee players out of the tournament, all eyes from the Swiss fans were on Patty Schnyder, but she couldn’t live up to the expectations, as she was upset by Francesca Schiavone in three sets.

WHO WILL BE THE NO.1 RISING FRENCHWOMAN?

The standout quarterfinal on Friday will be the battle of the Frenchies between Marion Bartoli and Tatiana Golovin. Bartoli has been impressive this week after a false start against Shuai Peng, dropping just six games in the last four sets she’s played. This includes a 6-4, 6-1 win over Michaella Krajicek in the second round. Bartoli still has an outside shot at reaching the championships, if she goes deep this week, and in Linz.

Golovin has won six out of her last seven matches, only losing to Henin in the Stuttgart final. She convincingly beat Ana Ivanovic in the second round, and her forehand is firing on all cylinders. The only time Bartoli and Golovin faced each other was in Tokyo last year, when Tati got crushed by her countrywoman 6-3, 6-0.