Skip to Content. Skip to Navigation.
Tennis

News

Stosur makes Doha final

Stosur makes Doha final

02/18/2012 11:30:09 PM

World No.1 Victoria Azarenka and third-seed Samantha Stosur are through to the final of the Qatar Open after Saturday's (local time) semi finals.

Azarenka, the top seed in Doha, won her 16th-straight match to continue her perfect start to 2012, beating Poland's Agnieszka Radwanska 6-2 6-4.

The Belarusian broke Radwanska's serve six times throughout the match in a comfortable win.

Azarenka will meet Stosur in the final on Sunday after the Australian was handed a semi-final victory thanks to the retirement of fifth-seed Marion Bartoli.

Stosur won the first set 6-3 before her French opponent forfeited the match due to an injury to her right calf.

Azarenka will be confident heading into the clash with Stosur, winning all five of their career meetings without dropping a set.

In their most recent meeting, Azarenka defeated the 27-year-old Australian 6-2 6-2 at the WTA Championships in October.

Meanwhile, Alexandra Panova and Lara Arruabarrena-Vecino will meet in their first WTA final at the Copa BBVA Colsanitas in Colombia on Sunday.

In fact, Panova had not even advanced past the first round of a WTA tournament in almost 17 months and now stands on the verge of a first career title after defeating Hungarian teenager Timea Babos 6-2 6-3 in their semi-final on Saturday.

"I started really well. I found my rhythm early and stayed strong mentally the whole match," Panova said on the WTA website.

"Everything I needed to do, I executed. I also stayed away from her strengths and put pressure on her."

"I'm satisfied with my game today. Every day I feel more confident so it's easier for me to play and hopefully tomorrow is going to be an even better day for me."

With both youngsters in unchartered territory having never been as deep into a tournament, Panova settled the quicker, reeling off the first four games to pick up the opening set on the clay courts in Bogota.

The Russian took a little over an hour to wrap up the match and set up a final showdown with 19-year-old Aruabarrena-Vecino, who cast aside the more experienced Edina Gallovits-Hall 6-4 6-3.

Spaniard Aruabarrena-Vecino produced her best tennis of the week against the in-form Romanian and will also be making her first WTA finals appearance on Sunday.

"My confidence has been growing from my other wins and today I played really well," Arruabarrena-Vecino said.

"Edina also played very well today but I think I followed through on everything I hoped to do. Everything turned out great."

 
Photograph Copyright : Getty Images

You Might Also Like

Most Read Articles

Carney the ace up NSW's sleeve
Carney the ace up NSW's sleeve
League
05/22/2012 09:40:18 PM
State of Origin newcomer Todd Carney could be the difference between success and failure ...
 
 
Tomic progresses in Nice
Tennis
05/22/2012 09:47:16 PM
 
Drogba confirms Chelsea exit
Football
05/22/2012 06:49:21 PM
 
Maroons still need Petero power
League
05/22/2012 09:36:12 PM
 
NRL Teams - Round 12
League
05/22/2012 07:51:39 AM
 
Raiders ban booze buddies
League
05/22/2012 07:35:15 AM
 
Hazard could move to Chelsea
Football
05/22/2012 05:24:53 AM
 
Cole eyeing Liverpool return
Football
05/22/2012 09:57:35 AM
 
 
 

Your Say

Galleries

2012 Australian Open: Final
30/01/2012 1:05:03 PM
Victoria Azarenka claimed her first ever Grand Slam title while Novak Djokovic and Rafael Nadal produced one of the most remarkable tennis matches of all time.
2012 Australian Open: Semi Finals
28/01/2012 1:37:46 AM
Nadal and Djokovic will meet each-other in the Australian Open Men's Final and Azarenka will battle Sharapova in the Women's Final. Here's all the semi-final action.