NUSA DUA, Indonesia (AFP) - US Open champion Svetlana Kuznetsova faces unheralded Marlene Weingartner of Germany in the final of the Wismilak International WTA tennis tournament in Bali on Sunday.
Second-seeded Kuznetkova outclassed fellow Russian Nadia Petrova 6-7 (1/7), 6-1, 6-2 in the semifinals Saturday to book a place in the final of the 225,000-dollar tournament on the Indonesian resort island.
Kuznetsova struggled to find a rhythm in the first set, allowing Petrova to build a 4-1 lead.
After dropping her serve to fall behind 3-1 and failing to convert a break point in the next game, Kuznetsova finally broke back on her eighth break point and held to level at 5-5.
But Petrova continued the pressure and although Kuznetsova held off two set points at 6-5, she swept through the tiebreak for the loss of just one point.
In the final set Kuznetsova swept to 4-0 and found the range on her serve with 10 aces.
Kuznetsova, who played in Bali just five days after winning the US Open, said she was not in her best shape and complained about the island's humidity.
"After the first set I knew that she (Petrova) was tired. I was tired too but I was trying hard to play each ball," she said.
"I feel great but humidity is very tough here. I didn't have time to switch time zones. I'm jet-lagged and the court is so much different here but I was trying my best," she said.
In another semifinal match, Weingartner overpowered Maria Elena Camerin of Italy 2-6, 6-3, 6-3, setting a stage for the battle with Kuznetsova.
Weingartner struggled with her serve at times and hit seven double-faults. After conceding the first set, Weingartner began to strike her forehand more effectively, allowing her to break for 1-0 and again for 5-2.
In the third set, Camerin twice earned the first break but Weingartner refused to fold, and a third break for the German allowed her to serve out for a place in her first career final.
"I think I was physically better than her (Camerin) and also she made many mistakes. We were both fighting a lot and I just fought harder I guess," Weingartner said.
"Tomorrow will be my first final this year. It's a pleasure to play her (Kuznetsova) for sure -- it can't be better. I have played some good games this week and I think I may have a chance tomorrow," she said.
In the doubles event, Kuznetsova/ Arantxa Sanchez Vicario will face Anastasia Myskina/Ai Sugiyama in Sunday's final after beating Tathiana Garbin/Nicole Pratt 6-2, 6-2 Saturday.