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The Honolulu Advertiser
Updated at 9:59 a.m., Friday, June 20, 2008

Tennis: Petrova, Radwanska reach Eastbourne final

Associated Press

EASTBOURNE, England — Nadia Petrova defeated Samantha Stosur 6-3, 6-3 today to reach the final of the Eastbourne International Women's Open.

The eighth-seeded Russian will face fourth-seeded Agnieszka Radwanska, who upset No. 2 Marion Bartoli 7-5, 6-3.

Petrova will appear in her first final since August in Los Angeles. She is seeking her first title since winning the Paris indoor event in February 2007. She has struggled much of this year, losing her opening match in seven of 11 tournaments.

The match was delayed by rain and interrupted at 3-3 in the first set. When play restarted, Petrova broke when she forced an error with a strong service return before another 30-minute rain delay.

In the second set, Petrova fought off two break points in the opening game and again at 3-3 before breaking Stosur at love. She clinched the win with her fourth ace.

Petrova credited her serve and willingness to come to the net for the victory.

"If you want to win on this surface you've got to play this kind of game," Petrova said. "With my serve and my volleys I should be going to the net much more often. But it's coming, it's on the way ... I have titles on every surface except grass so that would be a very nice achievement for me."

Radwanska benefited from Bartoli's seven double-faults, but had to withstand some early pressure.

The Pole faced four break points at 3-3 before rain forced the players off court for 70 minutes. Bartoli then held two set points at 5-4 before Radwanska earned the only break when Bartoli double-faulted.

In the second set, Bartoli broke to go up 1-0, but Radwanska swept the next four games. Although Bartoli claimed another break in the sixth game, she dropped her serve with a seventh double-fault to leave Radwanska serving for victory.

Radwanska will be bidding for her third title of the year after winning in Pattaya and Istanbul.