Kirilenko stuns Hantuchova to reach Kolkata tennis final

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KOLKATA, Sept 23 (AFP): Russia's Maria Kirilenko upset second seed Daniela Hantuchova of Slovakia Saturday in three sets to reach the final of the WTA Sunfeast Open.
The 20-year-old Kirilenko, the fourth seed here and currently ranked 35th in the world, shocked the world number 11 Hantuchova, winning a more than two-hour battle, 4-6, 6-2, 6-1.
On Sunday, the Russian -- whose sole WTA title came in Beijing two years ago -- will take on Ukraine's Mariya Koryttseva, who beat Britain's Anne Keothavong 7-6 (7/3), 6-3 to book her first-ever finals appearance.
Koryttseva, ranked 164th in the world, was in her element, as the semi-final -- the first for both players -- turned into a baseline slugfest.
"We were comparing our forehands to see who had the better one," the 22-year-old Koryttseva told reporters.
Early on, both the Ukrainian and Keothavong, ranked 144th, showed some nerves, with unforced errors piling up on both sides of the net. Each player broke serve three times, resulting in the first-set tiebreaker.
Both players found their rhythm in the second set, but the Ukrainian was too tough for the 24-year-old Keothavong, breaking her in the fifth game and cruising to victory.
"I had a problem with a few line calls. I was finding it difficult to concentrate in the early part of the game as my left thigh was troubling me," said Koryttseva, who got her thigh strapped after going up 2-0 in the second.
"I realised I was concentrating on my leg more than my game. But it is okay now and hopefully it will be better tomorrow."