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Posted at 4:42 a.m., Saturday, October 18, 2008

Tennis: Pennetta beats Medina Garrigues in Zurich semis

Associated Press

ZURICH, Switzerland — Flavia Pennetta of Italy beat Spain's Anabel Medina Garrigues 6-3, 7-6 (6) on Saturday to reach the final of the Zurich Open.

The second semifinal pitted third-seeded Venus Williams against No. 2 Ana Ivanovic.

Pennetta, who upset top-ranked Jelena Jankovic in the second round Thursday, reached her fourth final of the year. She trailed 3-1 in the first set before finding her range and forehand power.

She then won five straight games, including three breaks of serve, to take the set.

Medina Garrigues, ranked 30th, led 3-1 again in the second. But Pennetta broke to even the set at 3-3, causing Medina Garrigues to shout at herself after hitting a forehand long.

The 26-year-old Spaniard broke to lead 6-5 but couldn't serve out the set, forcing a tiebreaker.

Pennetta survived a set point when Medina Garrigues sent a backhand return long, then converted her first match point.

Pennetta has won two tournaments this year, at Vina Del Mar, Chile, in February and Acapulco, Mexico, in March.