Kremer beats top seed to reach final

Fourth-seeded Anne Kremer of Luxembourg surprised top-seed Silvia Talaja of Croatia in a marathon 4-6, 7-6 (7-2), 6-2 victory on Saturday to book her place in the final of the $112,500 Volvo Women's Open in Pattaya, Thailand.

Fourth-seeded Anne Kremer of Luxembourg surprised top-seed Silvia Talaja of Croatia in a marathon 4-6, 7-6 (7-2), 6-2 victory on Saturday to book her place in the final of the $112,500 Volvo Women's Open in Pattaya, Thailand.

She will face Bulgarian qualifier Magdalena Maleeva, who got even with Denisa Chladkova, who beat her earlier this year, defeating the Czech seventh-seed 7-6 (7-4), 6-2 in the other semi-final.

Seeking her first WTA title, the world No 39 Kremer used her impressive baseline game to outperform Talaja in a match lasting two hours and 16 minutes.Starting slowly in windy conditions, she lost the first set, struggling against Talaja's backhand, and then trailed the Croatian 4-2 in the second before forcing a tie-break.

Kremer dominated from then on, losing only two points in the tiebreak, then taking charge in the third from the back of the court while Talaja overhit a series of shots, to clinch the set 6-2.

In the other semi, Maleeva, ranked 131 in the world, rallied from 3-5 down to take the first set tie-break 7-4. Once in her rhythm, the Bulgarian breezed through the second 6-2, wrapping up the match in one hour and 14 minutes.

"She played so fast in the first set, but it was my serves that helped me today," said Maleeva, the youngest sister of the Maleeva siblings and chasing her first title.

Maleeva and Kremer will play each other for the first time when they meet in the final on Sunday.

Semi-final Results

Anne Kremer (4), Luxembourg, beat Silvia Talaja (1), Croatia, 4-6, 7-6 (7-2), 6-2.Magdalena Maleeva, Bulgaria, beat Denisa Chladkova (7), Czech Republic, 7-6 (7-4) 6-2.