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By Erik Gudris | Saturday, September 20, 2014

 
Lepchenko Seoul

Varvara Lepchenko saved a match point against fellow American Christina McHale to reach her first career final at the Korea Open.

Photo Credit: AP

Varvara Lepchenko, after saving a match point, now finds herself in her first career WTA final at the Kia Korea Open in Seoul.

Her all-American semifinal against friend Christina McHale proved a back and forth battle right from the start. Lepchenko, who knocked out top seed Agnieszka Radwanska earlier, found herself behind to her Fed Cup teammate.

McHale soon secured the first set 6-3.

The No. 5 seed Lepchenko rallied by converting multiple break point chances in the second set as she quickly claimed it 6-1. The final set proved tougher as McHale jumped out to an early lead.

McHale was unable to convert on a match point late in the set allowing Lepchenko to force a tiebreak. Lepchenko took control in the tiebreak and didn't surrender her advantage as she clinched a 3-6, 6-1, 7-6(5) victory.

Seoul is now the first ever career WTA final for the 28-year-old American. Waiting for Lepchenko in the final will be No. 2 seed Karolina Pliskova of the Czech Republic.

Pliskova fought off a stern challenge from Russian wildcard Maria Kirilenko in their semifinal. Pliskova struggled with her serve throughout most of the match that almost put her to the brink of elimination. Kirilenko took the first set but narrowly lost the second in a tiebreak.

Kirilenko's own serving woes would cost her the final set. Pliskova broke Kirilenko in the last game to claim a 4-6, 7-6(5), 6-3 win.

Niculescu Wins Guangzhou Title

Monica Niculescu won her second career title at the Guangzhou International Women's Open. She defeated No. 2 seed Alize Cornet in the final 6-4, 6-0.

 

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