Moorilla Hobart International Tennis - Australian Open Series

Czech mates on course for Hobart final showdown

AAP Wednesday 14 January 2009 Comments

Czech mates Petra Kvitova and Iveta Benesova are on course to meet in the final of the Moorilla Hobart International.

But powerful teenager Kvitova must first overcome in-form Frenchwoman Virginie Razzano in the semifinals of the Australian Open lead-up tournament on Thursday.

Razzano’s crushing 6-4 6-1 defeat of the improving world No.43 Bulgarian Tsvetana Pironkova was the standout quarterfinal victory today.

“I think I can win this tournament but I have to do my job the best I can and we will see if I win or not,” world No.62 Razzano told reporters.

“I played very well today and she played well too I think.”

But Kvitova, 18, fought hard to come back from a set down to scramble an impressive 1-6 7-5 6-3 quarterfinal win against Russian 17 year old Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova.

Benesova meets Slovakian Magdalena Rybarikova in the tournament’s other semifinal on Thursday.

World No.41 Benesova took care of Argentine Gisela Dulko 6-4 6-4 to set up her semifinal against the 57th ranked Slovakian.

Tags: Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova, Iveta Benesova, Petra Kvitova, Virginie Razzano

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