Second seed Svetlana Kuznetsova defeated Slovakian Daniela Hantuchova 6-4, 6-2 to reach the final of the Italian Open on Saturday.
ROME: Second seed Svetlana Kuznetsova defeated Slovakian Daniela Hantuchova 6-4, 6-2 to reach the final of the Italian Open on Saturday.
Kuznetsova, the 2004 US Open champion, will face Jelena Jankovic in Sunday's final after the Serbian number three seed beat Patty Schnyder 6-1, 6-3 in the day's first semi-final.
Runner-up at last year's French Open, Kuznetsova, who has won all of her matches in straight sets, insisted she had yet to reach her peak.
"I'm really happy to be in the final," said the 21-year-old Russian.
"I have won all my matches in two sets, but I haven't played my best tennis yet.
"I knew it was going to be tough today, but I kept focused.
"I love playing on clay and I know that Daniela is less comfortable on this surface, and that worked in my favour."
Asked how she felt facing Jankovic, Kuznetsova replied: "She moves incredibly well on clay and manages to retrieve some incredible balls, but I am looking forward to it".
Jankovic, whose impressive form this year has lifted her up to fifth in the world rankings, was rarely troubled in a one-sided semi-final against Swiss 14th seed Schnyder.
Schnyder, a runner-up here in 2005 and conqueror of eight-time Grand Slam winner Serena Williams in Thursday's quarter-finals, failed to hold her serve in the entire match.
Jankovic was surprised to win so easily.
"I have to admit I was expecting a harder match," said the 22-year-old Serb who won the WTA's Most Improved Player of the Year Award last year.
"But I am delighted to win and I'm very excited to be in my first Rome final.
"I'm sure the final is going to be tougher, but I hope to win my third title of the year."
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