Safina and Kuznetsova to meet in all-Russian final
WORLD No1 Dinara Safina admits she is deperate to win her first Grand Slam after beating Dominika Cibulkova to set up an all-Russian French Open final.
Safina got away with an error-strewn performance against the Slovakian 20th seed to win 6-3, 6-3, and take another step closer to her first major title.
Last year’s runner-up said: “I really want to win it. I had a great experience here last year and I just need to do a little bit better. I am just going to go for it. It wasn’t an easy match; I felt tight throughout. I’m trying to control my emotions. I’m not playing my best, but still it’s not easy to beat me.”
Safina, 23, will face compatriot Svetlana Kuznetsova in tomorrow’s final after the seventh seed battled past surprise package Sam Stosur 6-4, 6-7 (5-7), 6-3.
Kuznetsova wasted chances to wrap up victory in two sets, serving for the match and then blowing a 5-2 lead in the tie-break.
The 2006 runner-up then faced a break point in the decider but saved it before embarking on a decisive three-game run.