Svetlana Kuznetsova sweated to keep her record at the Wismilak International a perfect 12-0 last night, twice recovering from a break down to defeat Lindsay Davenport 7-6 (7/4), 7-6 (7/5) to reach her third final.
The top-seeded Russian and her Californian opponent both worked hard in the tropical heat, with Kuznetsova rushing occasionally to the sidelines to swap rackets when her grip began to slip.
The champion in 2002 and 2004 will face either Swiss second seed Patty Schnyder or French sixth seed Marion Bartoli in today's final at this beachside resort.
PHOTO: AFP
The loss was the first here for Davenport, 7-1, who now travels to Beijing for next week's China Open. The American had beaten Kuznetsova in three of their prevoius four meetings.
Kuznetsova fired nine aces as she stormed to the victory in a shade under two hours.
"I'm so happy to win in two sets," said the Russian after the battle of former Grand Slam champions. "I was a break down in each set and really had to work to get back."
PHOTO: AP
Kuznetsova looked like losing the second set as she trailed 5-2, but mounted a fight back which left Davenport to break back the final game and force a second tiebreaker.
In that decider Kuznetsoava lost a 5-2 lead, Davenport levelling at 5-all on the Russian's double-fault.
But two ensuing backhand errors from the 30-year-old American third seed handed over the victory.
"It was a good match, very close," said Davenport, who has played in only six tournaments this season due to back problems as she missed nearly six months.
"She played better when she was down and I maybe let up a bit in the second set.
"It was just a few points here and there. A few of those going my way and the match could have been in my hands.
Mario Ancic earned revenge for Croatia as he defeated Hyung-taik Lee 4-6, 6-1, 6-1 to reach the final of the China Open yesterday, eliminating the Asian who stunned compatriot Ivan Ljubicic in the previous round.
Ancic, competing in his first event since Wimbledon after a summer of back and knee injuries, will await a winner from the second semi-final between Australian Open finalist Marcos Baghdatis of Cyprus and Thai Paradorn Srichaphan.
The 22-year-old Ancic improved his chances of possible qualification for November's season-ending Masters Cup in Shanghai as he defeated Lee in two hours, nine minutes.
The Croatian, best friends with Davis Cup teammate Ljubicic, whom Lee defeated in the quarter-finals, stands 10th in the chase to the eight-man year-end event
Fourth-seed Ancic recovered after losing the first set to the Korean, eventually breaking Lee six times with a turnaround in the final two sets.
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