Briton blows big lead

Bartoli: Comeback victory

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British number one Anne Keothavong squandered a match-winning advantage in the Bank of West Classic, losing seven out of eight games to go out against Marion Bartoli.

Swiss veteran Patty Schnyder advanced into the quarter-finals in California with style while defending champion Anna Chakvetadze also made the last eight.

World number 82 Keothavong could, and should, have been lining up in the quarters against the Russian after enjoying a 4-1 final set lead against Bartoli.

Former Wimbledon runner-up Bartoli had raced through the opening set, but the Briton hit back in the second by winning five games on the bounce to level the match.

The French world number 15 was then staring defeat in the face as Keothavong powered into a 4-1 lead in the decisive set and well on the way to the last eight.

Comeback

However, Bartoli came back strongly and won four consecutive games to move 5-4 ahead and, despite Keothavong levelling at 5-5, all the momentum was with the Frenchwoman who closed out a 6-3 1-6 7-5 victory.

Schnyder joins Bartoli in the last eight after she defeated Russian Alisa Kleybanova 7-6 (10/8), 6-4 in her second round match.

Unseeded Kleybanova put up a real fight in the opening set and Schnyder had to battle hard to eventually triumph in the tie-breaker.

The second set was a lot more comfortable for Schynder, who now goes on the face top seed Serena Williams for a place in the semis.

"I had a plan. It was just a matter of how many points she would allow me to do it," Schnyder said.

"She was trying to dictate everything, whether winners or errors. I think she was so dominant it was tough for me to play. I had to mix it up a lot."

Australian lucky loser Samantha Stosur upset third seed Vera Zvonereva 6-3 6-2 to earn a quarter-final clash with Canadian qualifier Aleksandra Wozniak, who defeated Austria's Sybille Bammer 6-4 7-5.