Tennis: Hantuchova battles to win

Daniela Hantuchova hits a forehand to Tzipora Obziler. Ross Land / Getty Images

Number 2 seed Daniela Hantuchova came back from 3-5 down in the deciding set to win a marathon encounter against Israeli qualifier Tzipora Obziler at the ASB Classic in Auckland today.

The win puts and advance Hantuchova in the semifinals. She was also 1-5 down in the first set.

The world number 17 made 70 unforced errors but still won 7-5 3-6 7-5 and will meet Vera Zvonareva, who beat Maria Kirilenko 6-2 6-0.

Hantuchova made some critical errors in the deciding set, but appeared to hold her nerve better than her opponent in the final stages, reeling off four straight games to win.

"That's just the way I play. My level of unforced errors is always going to be high. Not making as many as I did today. It was very, very frustrating.

"I don't remember the last time I played such a long match.

"She was very solid and not missing a ball at all. Whenever I gave her a slow ball she knew what to do with it and she was also reading my shots very well."

The topsy-turvy match had tournament director Richard Palmer looking apprehensive at times as he watched his second seed struggle in front of a large crowd.

"If Richard was having heart-attacks, so was I," said Hantuchova. "I think I aged ten years."She added: "Hopefully I will be a little but more prepared for my next match, but as I said, I have to give her all the credit for the way she played."

Obziler, who played in the qualifying rounds to reach the tournament proper, wasn't expected to reach the quarters, but yesterday pulled off an upset straight sets win over fifth seed Katarina Srebotnik from Slovenia.