Dechy beats Mauresmo

Nathalie Dechy booked a spot in the Western & Southern Financial Group Open final with a 6-4 3-6 6-2 victory over fifth-seeded Amelie Mauresmo on Saturday.

The 29-year-old Dechy broke a three-match losing streak against Mauresmo en route to reaching a final for the first time since New Haven in 2004.

In the final, Dechy will meet Nadia Petrova, who rebounded from a slow start to post a 1-6 6-2 6-1 triumph over third-seeded Maria Kirilenko in an all-Russian clash.

Dechy also was able to stop the momentum of Mauresmo, a two-time Grand Slam champion and former world number one who had been playing well.

The Frenchwoman, who was in her first semi-final of the year, recently moved up to 35th in the world rankings.

Petrova, who ended a three-match losing streak to Kirilenko, has not won a WTA singles event since February 2007.

Entering this tournament, her year had been highlighted by a run to the Wimbledon quarter-finals.

Western & Southern Financial Group Open semifinals results:
Nathalie Dechy (France) def. 5-Amelie Mauresmo (France) 6-4 3-6 6-2
Nadia Petrova (Russia) def. 3-Maria Kirilenko (Russia) 1-6 6-2 6-1