Svetlana Kuznetsova reached her first final in more than three years on Friday with a 6-3, 6-1 win over fellow Russian Elena Vesnina to set up a clash with Carla Suarez Navarro at the ATP-WTA Portugal Open.
The Russian seventh-seed who owns grand slam titles from 2004 in Paris and 2009 in New York. Will take on the Spanish top seed competing in her third straight final here but without a career trophy of any kind.
Suarez Navarro overcame Romanian qualifier Irina Begu 7-6 (7/3), 6-1 in one and three-quarter hours,
Kuznetsova has won three of her four meetings with Suarez Navarro, the last in 2013.
“I’ve been playing well the last two weeks, and I’m happy to be in the final. I never really expected this, especially on clay,” she said entering her first clay final since Roland Garros five years ago.
“This means a lot to me. I’m far from my top level but my tennis can still get me into this final, I have a chance to beat a lot of top players and I’m gaining confidence.”
Suarez Navarro, who cruised through her early rounds with barely a challenge, was made to work in the semi-final by Begu ranked 117.
The challenger kept the first set competitive before getting discouraged over line calls and fading in the second.
The winner broke five times but lost her own serve on four occasions. Suarez Navarro will become the season singles win leader with 25 victories as a result of her victory.
The 28-year-old Kuznetsova last played a final in February, 2011 in Dubai, where she lost to Caroline Wozniacki. The Russian’s last trophy was earned at 2010 San Diego.
Berdych, Raonic win
Top seeds Tomas Berdych and Milos Raonic strolled into the quarterfinals of the Portugal Open with straight-sets victories on Thursday.
The seventh-ranked Berdych opened his title bid with a 6-3, 6-2 win over Somdev Devvarman of India, while ninth-ranked Raonic, of Canada, reached his fourth successive quarterfinals with a 6-3, 6-2 win against Pablo Cuevas of Uruguay.