Schnyder slumps in final

Patty Schnyder, in great form all week, just misses out on her eighth career title Keystone

Switzerland's Patty Schnyder has failed in her attempt to cap a marvellous week's tennis, losing in the final of the WTA tournament in Charleston.

She was beaten in straight sets by Croatia’s Iva Majoli, 6-7 (5/7), 4-6.

The first set went to a tiebreak after Schnyder had been just two points away from taking it. It proved to be the pivotal point of the match, with the Basel player making a terrible start and going 1-5 down. She saved two set points, but Majoli managed to hold her nerve and take the set.

The Swiss player had her service broken just once in the second set. But it was enough to allow the Croatian to take the match and win her first tournament since she beat Martina Hingis in the final of Roland Garros in 1997.

It was the fifth time the two players had met. Schnyder had won all of their previous encounters.

Schnyder has had a remarkable run of form in Charleston. She knocked out four top players including the world number number one, Jennifer Capriati, on her way to the final. That run will guarantee that she moves up the world rankings.

The match was the first top tier women’s final featuring two unseeded players, with Schnyder ranked 30th in the world and Majoli 58th.

swissinfo with agencies