Sara Errani of Italy (right) speaks to Kiki Bertens of the Netherlands who forfeited her semi-final match at the 21st GDF Suez Tennis Open in Paris, France, yesterday.
Paris: Top seeded Italian Sara Errani will play Germany’s Mona Barthel in the final of the Paris Open after they both clinched easy semi-final victories yesterday.
Errani was hardly tested as lucky loser Kiki Bertens of the Netherlands retired injured in the first set with a back problem when the 2012 French Open finalist was leading 5-0 and in full command.
Barthel sailed through the first set 6-1 against Frenchwoman Kristina Mladenovic before overcoming sterner resistence to close out the match 6-4 and reach today’s championship match.
Meanwhile, Maria Kirilenko of Russia and Germany’s Sabine Lisicki will meet in the Pattaya Open final after both claimed straight set victories yesterday.
Second-seeded Kirilenko needed just 67 minutes to overwhelm fourth seed Sorana Cirstea of Romania 6-0, 6-2, and Lisicki beat Russia’s Nina Bratchikova 7-5, 6-3.
Kirilenko was in blistering form against a lethargic opponent who rarely raised a challenge.
After Kirilenko broke twice to lead 3-0, Cirstea failed to convert three break points in the next game, and she also began the second set in dismal form by dropping the opening game with a double-fault.
The Romanian finally held serve in the ninth game and then broke to level the set at 2-2, but Kirilenko swiftly regained control to earn her best win since October 2011.
Fifth-seeded Lisicki failed to find her best form in the early stages, making countless poor returns as she battled with an enterprising opponent who rallied well, came to the net and made some excellent winning passes.
The first five games went against serve before Lisicki held for 4-2, and Bratchikova also faced two break points before holding serve in the next game.
Lisicki then failed to serve out the set at 5-4 but broke serve again to lead 6-5, saving a break point before claiming the set.
After breaking to lead 2-1 on her fifth break point Lisicki’s game finally clicked into gear and she produced some fine serves and crisp winners to blunt her opponent’s comeback. AGENCIES
