Patty Schnyder Reaches First Final of the Season

HEAD player Patty Schnyder advanced to the final round of the Canara Bank Bangalore Open this weekend in India.

Schnyder, who plays with the MicroGel Radical MP, defeated Zi Yan of China 6-3, 6-4 in the semifinal round. She went on to face No. 3 seed and eventual winner Serena Williams in her first final of the season.

"[Serena] was a great opponent today and made it tough for me to play my game," Schnyder said. "I think the first set could have gone either way, and I had my chances. I was really happy with the way I played today especially my forehand, but she was serving and rallying really well too. I lost to a great champion."

29-year-old Schnyder turned pro in 1994. She has 10 WTA singles titles and four WTA doubles titles under her belt, and is coached by husband Rainer Hofmann.