Tomljanovic to meet Hantuchova in Pattaya final
Bangkok (AFP) - Croatia's Alja Tomljanovic will face off against Slovakia's Daniela Hantuchova at the WTA Pattaya Open on Sunday after both women slogged their way to the final Saturday with gruelling three set tie-break victories.
Seventh seed Monica Puig fell to Tomljanovic in a match that lasted just short of three hours in the stuffy tropical heat at the popular Thai tourist resort.
Puig, the last seeded player left in the competition, lost the first set 7-6 but rallied 5-7 to take the second, only to crash out in the third.
Hantuchova dispatched New Zealand's Marina Erakovic in another hard-fought three setter that the Slovakian also won on a tie-break in the final set.
Croatian born Erakovic got off to a good start, taking the first set 6-4 but she struggled to retain her early form, losing the second 6-3 and third 7-6 in two hours and forty-five minutes.
Baseliner Hantuchova, ranked 73rd, recently changed coaches, taking former Li Na and Justine Henine mentor Carlos Rodriguez.
Tomljanovic is a fair match and ranked just five places higher in the world rankings.
