Hantuchova takes title in Austria, qualifies for WTA Championships

LINZ, Austria -- Second-seeded Daniela Hantuchova defeated Patty Schnyder 6-4, 6-2 on Sunday to win the Generali Ladies, her second WTA Tour title of the season and third overall.

The 24-year-old Slovak also won in Indian Wells earlier this year, as she did in 2002, but lost finals in Bali and Luxemburg.

"I can't believe right now that I've won," said Hantuchova, who is 9-8 against Schnyder. "Patty played very well, especially in the first set, so I had to dig deep to win this match."

The 10th-ranked Hantuchova has now qualified for the season-ending WTA Championships in Madrid, Spain, which she called "quite a miracle."

The third-seeded Schnyder, who played her second final of the season after San Diego, scored several points with her crosscourt backhands and broke Hantuchova in the fifth game of the opening set.

From 4-2 down, Hantuchova, who had 28 winners, won five games in a row to win the set and take a lead in the second.

Schnyder lost serve again at 2-1 and then missed two chances to break back in the next game.

Hantuchova, who got a warning from the umpire for taking too much time in-between serves toward the end of the second set, finished off the match on her second match point on Schnyder's serve.