Top-seeded Nathalie Dechy and No 3 Marion Bartoli bowed out of the semi-finals on Saturday to end the chance of an all-French final at the 170,000-dollar WTA Bell Challenge.
American veteran Amy Frazier, the sixth seed, upset Dechy 6-4, 7-5, leaving Dechy, ranked 13th in the world, still in search of a first finals appearance this year and without a WTA Tour title since January 2003. "I am really happy with the way I played today," the 71st-ranked Frazier said. "I have improved my tennis. I worked hard physically, and I am more aggressive. I did good returns on my forehand."
However, Frazier said she also benefitted from a Dechy's own sub-par performance.
"Nathalie did not play near her best," Frazier said.
Dechy said she just couldn't find a way to break down Frazier's baseline game.
"It is always tremendous battles between us," Dechy said. "She was returning my services really well. She has long strokes that go deep. I was not able to change the rhythm and make her move."
Frazier, who is coming off a title in an ITF event in Houston two weeks ago, will meet Swedish eighth seed Sofia Arvidsson in Sunday's final. Arvidsson led Bartoli 6-4, 1-0 in the opening semi when the French player retired complaining of dizziness. Bartoli, who also had been bothered by cold spells during the first set, slipped to 0-6 in career semi-finals. Arvidsson acknowledged that it was an unfortunate way for the match to end, but she was pleased with her own performance.