Unseeded Russian Maria Kirilenko upset defending champion Tamarine Tanasugarn of Thailand 6-3, 6-2 to set up a title clash with Nicole Pratt of Australia in the $140,000 Hyderabad Open tennis tournament on Friday.
Kirilenko took full advantage of a knee injury the defending champion sustained during the match to win in less than an hour, while Pratt had to slug it out for over two-and-half hours to down second seed Marion Bartoli of France 4-6, 7-6(7/3), 6-2 in the second semi-final.
Tamarine, who sustained the knee injury in the first set, received medical assistance several times during the match and tried to slow down the pace, but the 20-year-old Russian made the most of the situation by attacking the flanks to take advantage of the limited mobility of her opponent.
The other semi-final, in contrast, was a nerve-wrecking one as both Pratt and Bartoli matched each other shot for shot during the marathon tie.
Pratt, the oldest player at the tournament, was a bit tentative at the start and commited a couple of double-faults to allow her opponent to race to a 3-0 lead. Though she came back strongly to level the score 4-4, Bartoli kept her cool to take the set 6-4.
The 31-year-old Pratt then got into the act as both players held serve in the second set before the Australian went on to win it via the tie-breaker.
Pratt then gave no chance to her opponent in the decider.
