Schnyder Tops Raymond

Patty Schnyder’s Grand Slam close-up finally arrived at the Australian Open, one guru and one private investigator-turned-husband later.

Until Schnyder’s 7-6 (2), 6-3 quarterfinal victory today against Lisa Raymond, it had been a tale of two Rainers for the mercurial and talented Swiss left-hander. The first alliance was in 1999 with Rainer Harnecker, an alternative medicine practitioner who had her drinking excess amounts of orange juice and claimed his methods could cure cancer, according to past proteges.

Then Rainer Hofmann, the man hired by her worried parents to investigate the guru, became a concern. She split with her parents and in December married Hofmann, who previously had entered a guilty plea to charges of fraud in a German court, according to reports.

She told Tennis Week she no longer speaks to her parents, and on Wednesday, Raymond referred to the fact that Schnyder had some past “personal issues.” Apparently, all is well in Schnyder’s world of the newly married, especially after reaching her first Grand Slam semifinal.

“I’m playing much better,” said Schnyder, who has no official coach. “In 2002, I played the best matches of my career.... My game was there, but I couldn’t play it consistently.”

In the semifinals, she will face second-seeded Kim Clijsters of Belgium, who survived a re-aggravation of her injured left ankle in defeating No. 6 Anastasia Myskina of Russia, 6-2, 7-6 (9).

Raymond, who upset Venus Williams in the third round, was crushed by the loss and missed opportunity at reaching a Slam semifinal for the first time.

“I don’t think I’ve ever been this disappointed losing a match,” said Raymond, who is 0-5 against Schnyder.

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In a men’s quarterfinal, No. 3 Juan Carlos Ferrero of Spain defeated Hicham Arazi of Morroco, 6-1, 7-6 (6), 7-6 (5), and will meet either No. 2 Roger Federer of Switzerland or No. 8 David Nalbandian of Argentina in the semifinals.

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As expected, the U.S. Davis Cup team that will face Austria on Feb. 6-8 at the Mohegan Sun Arena in Connecticut will feature Andy Roddick, Bob and Mike Bryan and Robby Ginepri. Mardy Fish was also named to the team, but U.S. captain Patrick McEnroe said Ginepri probably would play in the second singles spot.

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Australian Open At Melbourne Park:

MEN’S SEMIFINALS

* Andre Agassi (4) vs. Marat Safin, Russia, Friday.

MEN’S QUARTERFINALS

* Juan Carlos Ferrero (3), Spain, def. Hicham Arazi, Morocco, 6-1, 7-6 (6), 7-6 (5).

* David Nalbandian (8), Argentina, vs. Roger Federer (2), Switzerland.

WOMEN’S SEMIFINALS

* Justine Henin-Hardenne (1), Belgium vs. Fabiola Zuluaga (32), Colombia, today.

* Patty Schnyder (22), Switzerland vs. Kim Clijsters (2), Belgium, today.