Frenchwoman Nathalie Dechy [Images] won an epic battle with 12th seed Patty Schnyder [Images] 5-7, 6-1, 7-5 on Wednesday to reach the semi-finals of the Australian Open [Images].In a topsy-turvy encounter, the Swiss player looked set for victory when she led 2-0 in the deciding set. But Dechy stormed back to win in just over two and a half hours and progress to the last four of a grand slam for the first time.
In hot, blustery conditions, Schnyder, a semi-finalist in 2004, snatched the first set thanks to one break of serve in the 12th game. Dechy, the 19th seed, then ripped through the second set in 26 minutes to level the match.
Dechy, appearing in her first grand slam quarter-final, dropped serve in the first game of the final set before breaking back twice to set up a semi-final against top seed Lindsay Davenport [Images].
