Mauresmo into Philly final
ByReuters
Published 05/11/2005 at 22:17 GMT
Defending champion Amelie Mauresmo ended Nicole Vaidisova's 18-match unbeaten streak to reach the Philadelphia final with a 7-5 7-5 victory in Villanova, Philadelphia on Saturday. The third-seeded Frenchwoman will meet Russia's Elena Dementieva in Sunday'
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Dementieva, the fourth seed, advanced when her compatriot Nadia Petrova withdrew before their semi-final with a foot injury.
Mauresmo will be attempting to secure a third straight victory at the tournament before it moves to Madrid next season and she proved too strong for her teenage Czech opponent, breaking serve in the 12th game of both sets to seal the win.
"It was difficult for both of us to break, but I was able to take advantage of the opportunity," Mauresmo said.
The 16-year-old Vaidisova was looking for her fourth consecutive tournament title after victories in the Thailand, South Korea and Japan, making her the only player to win on three consecutive weeks on the WTA Tour this season.
Coming into the event following first-round losses at Moscow and Zurich, Mauresmo appears to be finding her form and she overcome the teenager's powerful serve to finally take a tough first set when Vaidisova double faulted.
Petrova had edged Martina Sucha of the Czech Republic 7-5 7-6 in the quarter-finals, but aggravated a bruised right heel during the match and was forced too withdraw from Saturday's contest.
"I am very disappointed I can't play," the sixth-seeded Petrova said. "I was looking forward to my semi-final match."
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