Stuttgart - Nadia Petrova is one win away from a second title at the Porsche Grand Prix as the Russian defeated Victoria Azarenka of Belarus 6-4, 6-4 in the semi-finals on Saturday.
Petrova, 26, needed 1 hour 29 minutes to beat Azarenka for the second time in three meetings, wrapping up the duel of unseeded players with a service winner.
"I am so excited to be back in the final. When I stay focused everything goes well," said Petrova.
The 18th-ranked Petrova won the Stuttgart event in 2006, taking home a Porsche 911 Targa S4 sports car. The winner's prize this time is a red 911 convertible from the title sponsors.
In the final Petrova meets either new world number one Jelena Jankovic or the sixth-seeded Wimbledon champion Venus Williams.
Azarenka, 19, finally ran out of steam after upsetting eight seed Agnieszka Radwanska in the second round and Olympic champion Elena Dementieva in the quarter-final marathon.
The world number 17 fought bravely against Petrova, recovering from deficits in each set, but Petrova's experience and freshness made the difference in the end.
Petrova will be playing for her ninth career title and second of the year, following Cincinnati in summer. She was also a finalist in Eastbourne. (dpa)
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