WARSAW, Poland(AP) Romanian qualifier Alexandra Dulgheru upset sixth-seeded Daniela Hantuchova 6-4, 6-7 (2), 6-1 Friday to advance to the final of the Warsaw Open.
The 19-year-old Dulgheru, ranked No. 201, dictated the pace of play on the red clay, converting eight of 10 break points to reach her first WTA Tour final.
She has a lot of experience, so I'm amazed that I won,'' Dulgheru said.If you asked me at the beginning of the tournament if I'd be here now, I would have said no.''
After winning the second-set tiebreaker, Hantuchova broke Dulgheru to open the third. But the Slovak's serve faltered again, and Dulgheru broke back and reeled off the next five games to move into the final.
For sure, she was not playing as number 200 today,'' the 36th-ranked Hantuchova said.In the third set she started to go for winners down the lines, which I didn't really expect.''
Eighth-seeded Alona Bondarenko of Ukraine played Anne Keothavong of Britain in the other semifinal.