NEW HAVEN, Conn. -- Former world No. 1 Amelie Mauresmo swept into the semifinals of the Pilot Pen on Thursday, beating fourth-seeded Agnes Szavay of Hungary 6-4, 7-5.
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Mauresmo, unseeded and ranked No. 33 in the world after being hampered by nagging injuries this year, will face top-seeded Anna Chakvetadze in the semifinals Friday.
"I am definitely very happy about this one," Mauresmo said. "I thought I mixed up pretty well tonight and was really solid not giving her many free points and making her work for every point."
Szavay, ranked No. 14 in the world, saved two match points in the 10th game before Mauresmo finally broke her in the 12th to win.
"I got a little tight on that moment," Mauresmo said. "I guess I need to get used to being back again in these kinds of situations. But after losing that game I really regrouped really well, played a good service game and then put a lot of pressure on her service game. I tried to learn from a couple of games ago and do much better next time."
Szavay, the Pilot Pen runner-up last year, said Mauresmo's style of play gave her trouble.
"She was serving well I think and she has a great slice, which I couldn't really handle," Szavay said. "I was missing a lot and couldn't move really well. She was good today."
Chakvetadze defeated Sorana Cirstea of Romania 6-3, 6-3 in her quarterfinal match to advance to her third semifinal of the year on the WTA Tour.
"It was a little tough conditions," Chakvetadze said. "It was too hot. In the beginning of the second set I felt a little dizzy, but then I was fighting until the end. That's why I won."
There were two upsets in the women's draw.
Second-seeded Daniela Hantuchova lost 3-6, 6-4, 6-4 to Alize Cornet, who played with an injured left quadriceps muscle.
"It's good because I won the match without playing my best level," Cornet said. "So, it means I can do better."
It was a tough day for Hantuchova, who also lost her doubles match with Lindsay Davenport to Russians Anastasia Rodionova and Galina Voskoboeva 6-3, 1-6, 11-9.
