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Zvonareva in Hobart final

January 10, 2008 20:05 IST
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Second seed Vera Zvonareva overpowered Ashley Harkleroad 6-2, 6-1 to set up a final with Greece's Eleni Daniilidou at the Hobart International on Thursday.

Zvonareva needed just under an hour to thrash the American qualifier, while Daniilidou powered into the final with a 6-4, 6-3 victory over Italy's Flavia Pennetta.

Russia's Zvonareva, who has been seeded 23rd for next week's Australian Open, converted five of seven break point opportunities in the match and ran her American opponent around the court with pinpoint drives from the baseline.

"I was preparing for a really tough match and actually it was a tough match, the score seems to be much easier but we had really good rallies," Zvonareva told reporters.

"I'm feeling good. There is nothing else I could wish for being in the final, I'm just looking forward to it."

Harkleroad, who was playing her sixth match in less than a week with qualifying and main draw action, said the succession of matches had finally taken their toll.

"I was a little bit tired out there both physically and mentally," she said. "I was also a little bit nervous.

"That is not the reason I lost, I lost a bit of composure out there."

Daniilidou, who will be playing her first WTA tour final since she won the Seoul title in 2006, had trouble with her ball toss and served five double faults. Pennetta had terrible problems on her own serve, failing to hold at all in the second set.

The Italian was also hampered with by a foot injury and needed courtside treatment.

"It's been a great week and I'm really pleased to be into the final," said Daniilidou. "I have to focus for the final, it's not going to be an easy one, but ...I'm just going to go out and give my best and enjoy it.

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Source: REUTERS
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