In a week where the favorites just haven't been able to keep up with their challengers Bethanie Mattek-Sands put the final nail in the coffin, sending the last seed standing home in an absolute demolition job in the semifinals of the $220,000 Bell Challenge on Saturday night.
Mattek-Sands had lost both of her previous meetings against No.3 seed Lucie Safarova in straight sets but she changed all that in just 54 minutes on Court Bell, scoring some 6-2 6-1 revenge on the big-hitting Czech left-hander.
"Bethanie just played too well," said Safarova, who was runner-up to Melinda Czink here last year. "It seemed everything she got her racquet on went in."
Mattek-Sands was the runner-up to Nadia Petrova at this event in 2008.
Earlier, Tamira Paszek continued to burn through the draw, cruising past fellow teen Christina McHale, 6-2 6-2. McHale, at 18 years the youngest to reach a Sony Ericsson WTA Tour semifinal this year, was overpowered by the 19-year-old Paszek, who reached her third career final and will go for her second title.
"She was a tough opponent. I didn't know what to expect," said Paszek, whose first title came at Portoroz four years ago. "Everything seems to be finally fitting together this week. I'm feeling healthy."
Paszek has now won seven matches in Québec City, three in qualifying and four in the main draw. She hasn't lost a single set during the week.
McHale was complimentary in defeat. "She played very solid," McHale said. "I was under pressure to go for more as she had an answer for everything it seemed. I had a good week though. I'm disappointed now, but I'm pleased to have made my first quarterfinal and semifinal here this week."
Mattek-Sands had lost both of her previous meetings against No.3 seed Lucie Safarova in straight sets but she changed all that in just 54 minutes on Court Bell, scoring some 6-2 6-1 revenge on the big-hitting Czech left-hander.
"Bethanie just played too well," said Safarova, who was runner-up to Melinda Czink here last year. "It seemed everything she got her racquet on went in."
Mattek-Sands was the runner-up to Nadia Petrova at this event in 2008.
Earlier, Tamira Paszek continued to burn through the draw, cruising past fellow teen Christina McHale, 6-2 6-2. McHale, at 18 years the youngest to reach a Sony Ericsson WTA Tour semifinal this year, was overpowered by the 19-year-old Paszek, who reached her third career final and will go for her second title.
"She was a tough opponent. I didn't know what to expect," said Paszek, whose first title came at Portoroz four years ago. "Everything seems to be finally fitting together this week. I'm feeling healthy."
Paszek has now won seven matches in Québec City, three in qualifying and four in the main draw. She hasn't lost a single set during the week.
McHale was complimentary in defeat. "She played very solid," McHale said. "I was under pressure to go for more as she had an answer for everything it seemed. I had a good week though. I'm disappointed now, but I'm pleased to have made my first quarterfinal and semifinal here this week."
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