HOBART – American Bethanie Mattek-Sands is one win away from her first WTA singles title after reaching the final of the Hobart International on Friday.
After leading the USA to victory in last week’s mixed teams Hopman Cup in Perth, Mattek-Sands continued her impressive start to the new season by overcoming China’s Peng Shuai 4-6, 6-1, 6-1 in 1hr 47min.
Mattek-Sands will play Australian Jarmila Groth in Saturday’s final.
Sixth seed Groth defeated her doubles partner and close friend Klara Zakopalova of the Czech Republic, 6-3, 6-2 in 1hr 3min.
Currently ranked No.59, Mattek-Sands is projected to break into the top 50 after advancing to the final in Hobart.
Groth will play in her first WTA final at home after her comfortable victory over fifth seed Zakopalova.
Groth has not dropped a set in the tournament but is expecting a tough contest against the in-form American.
Currently ranked 40, Groth is projected to rise by at least three places after advancing to the Hobart final and could break into the top 35 if she claims her second WTA singles title.
FERRER, NALBANDIAN IN
AUCKLAND FINAL: Top seed David Ferrer outclassed unseeded Colombian Santiago Giraldo at the Heineken Open in Auckland on Friday to set up a title decider with in-form Argentinian David Nalbandian.
Ferrer, the champion here in 2007, fought off a second set comeback from Giraldo to win 6-3, 7-5, while Nalbandian crushed second seed Nicolas Almagro 6-4, 6-2 to reach the final without dropping a set during the tournament.
Ferrer can expect a tougher challenge against former world number three Nalbandian, who was in control for the entire match against Almagro, producing a clinical display that left the Spaniard rattled.
He attacked from the outset against Almagro, continually wrong-footing the world number 14 with fading drop shots and tightly angled returns.
