Kerber reaches Eastbourne final; Bartoli ousted in semis

Austrian Tamira Paszek upended the fourth-seeded Bartoli in come-from-behind
fashion, 4-6, 7-5, 6-4, on the grass courts at Devonshire Park. The 2007
Wimbledon runner-up Bartoli beat reigning Wimbledon champion Petra Kvitova in
last year’s Eastbourne finale.

Meanwhile, a fifth-seeded Kerber was broken only once in spanking Czech
veteran Klara Zakopalova 6-0, 6-3 in a mere 59 minutes on Day 5. The left-
handed German now leads the WTA with 39 match wins this year and will battle
Paszek in Saturday’s finale.

The 24-year-old Kerber will appear in her third final of 2012, seeking a third
championship. She’s already titled in Paris and Copenhagen this season,
marking the first two titles of her blossoming career.

Kerber is 2-1 in her career finals, with the loss coming in Bogota in 2010.

The 21-year-old 2011 Wimbledon quarterfinalist Paszek is also 2-1 in her
career finals, with her last victory coming two years ago in Quebec City.

Kerber and Paszek will meet for the first time on the WTA circuit on Saturday.

The winner of this $637,000 event will collect $107,000.