Youzhny keeps home hopes alive

 

Originally published on: 26/02/10 12:53

Youzhny, the world number 30, took less than an hour and 10 minutes to inflict a 6-2 6-1 defeat on qualifier Mikhail Kukushkin.

The 27-year-old was far too powerful for his opponent from Kazakhstan, serving six aces to ensure his best-ever finish at the event having reached the semis five years ago.

Sixth seed Tipsarevic had a similarly trouble-free semi-final, beating qualifier Illya Marchenko 6-1 6-4 in one and a half hours.

In the women’s draw Francesca Schiavone will be favourite to lift the title after moving into the final where she will meet Olga Govortsova.

Schiavone, the eighth seed, played a mixed game but prevailed 6-4 6-0 against Alona Bondarenko of Ukraine.

Govortsova, the world number 67, beat Alisa Kleybanova 6-2 6-1 as her opponent’s serve abandoned her.

In the women’s doubles final, third seeds Nadia Petrova and Maria Kirilenko took less than an hour to clinch the title with a 6-2 6-2 victory over Maria Kondratieva and Klara Zakopalova.

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