STRASBOURG, France (AP)—Top-seeded Marion Bartoli of France beat Anabel Medina Garrigues of Spain 6-1, 6-2 Friday to reach the final of the Strasbourg International.
The Frenchwoman will play Andrea Petkovic of Germany, who outlasted Daniela Hantuchova of Slovakia, 6-4, 3-6, 6-4 in a match that lasted 2 hours, 42 minutes.
Tennis Gallery Bartoli put pressure on her opponent’s serve throughout the match, winning 27 of 43 return points. She is trying to build confidence on clay ahead of the French Open after a first-round exit in Barcelona and second-round losses in Charleston, Stuttgart, Madrid and Rome.
In the second semifinal, the sixth-seeded Hantuchova leveled at one set apiece when Petkovic double-faulted. But the second-seeded German fought back in the decider by jumping to a 3-0 lead. She converted her third match point to reach her second final this season.