ROME, May 10: Defending champion Conchita Martinez beat Swiss teenager Patty Schnyder 6-2, 6-2 here today to line up an Italian Open final against France's Mary Pierce.

The Spaniard, on course for a fifth consecutive title here, was a convincing winner, while Pierce had to come from a set down to beat Austrian Barbara Paulus 4-6, 6-3, 6-1 in the first match on the centre court.

The Canadian-born Frenchwoman played a woeful first set that was littered with needless mistakes, allowing 11th seeded Paulus to win it simply by keeping the ball in play. But Pierce soon rediscovered the touch which had defeated top seed Monica Seles earlier in the week, lining up her third final of the year.

Pierce's loss of the first set was entirely down to unforced errors, which were frequently bad enough to bring a collective groan from the centre court crowd at the Foro Italico. The 10th seed failed to find any length or accuracy, ballooning balls hopelessly long, smashing them into the net from close range and bungling the easiest of drop shots.

Paulus broke for 2-1 and again for 5-2 before Pierce found any rhythm to her game, breaking back for 5-3. She offered Paulus a set point before reaching 5-4 when the Austrian sent a return long.

However, one of Pierce's crunching two-fisted backhands went similarly long for 6-4 as the match seemed to be heading the Austrian's way.

In fact, the turning point was not long in coming. In the second game of the second set, Pierce trailed 0-30 but rallied to 30-30 with an overhead smash in which she seemed to vent all her pent-up frustration.

The 22-year-old from Montreal was then handed break point when Paulus double-faulted for 30-40. She missed that chance but took another minutes later before serving out convincingly to love for 3-0.

The momentum had clearly changed direction and although Paulus managed to break for 3-2, Pierce broke back immediately for 4-2 when her ferocious cross-court backhand clipped the net cord, Paulus hesitated for a split-second and missed the chance to pick the ball up as it bounced over. Pierce again served out to love for 5-2 as she headed into a victorious third set, breaking for 2-1, 4-1 and 6-1 as Paulus' resistance crumbled to nothing.

Medvedev in final

HAMBURG: Andrei Medvedev of the Ukraine moved to within one match of his third German Open title in four years when he upset second seed Yevgeny Kafelnikov in straight sets today.

Mevedev collected his third seeded scalp of the tournament when he brushed past his Russian opponent 6-3 6-1.

The world number 38 said he was now playing to the same standard as three years ago when, as a 19-year-old, he rose to number four in the world. ``I like it here in Hamburg,'' he added.

Medvedev served strongly, approached the net confidently and unleashed a string of potent passing shots on the rare occasions Kafelnikov came to the net.

His victory followed successes over 12th seed Sergei Bruguera and third seed Richard Krajicek.

Unseeded German Tommy Haas will meet 10th seed Felix Mantilla of Spain in the other semifinal later today.

Copyright © 1997 Indian Express Newspapers (Bombay) Ltd.