in the quarterfinals as both players warm up for next month's
US Open, the final grand slam of the year. Head to head Williams leads the crafty left-hander Schnyder 7-3, however Schnyder
has won two of their last three matches.
In their last meeting at Bangalore, India this spring, Williams won 7-5, 6-3 in the final at the Bangalore Open. Schnyder's mix
of power and slice could trouble Williams but is more of a worry on clay than on hardcourts such as at Stanford.
“I like playing her. Obviously she’s a great champion," Schnyder said. "Still, with her game, somehow I have found some ways
to beat her in previous matches. She’s the favorite and she does (well on) hard court. It’s going to very tough.”
Williams, who holds a WTA Tour best match record this year at 32-4, did not appear bothered by her opening result Wednesday as
she spoke to the media.
“It’s definitely encouraging to know I can bounce back. I haven’t been down a set for a while,” Williams said. “It’s the kind
of practice I need.”
Of her sluggish start until her midmatch turnaround Williams said, “I couldn’t get my feet to register with my brain.”
Williams is also scheduled to play next week in Los Angeles, California and at the Olympics the week of August 11th before
competing in New York at the US Open, which begins August 25th.
