New Haven, CT (My Sportsbook) - Seventh-seeded Elena Bovina blasted second- seeded and fellow Russian Elena Dementieva on Friday to reach the final at the $585,000 Pilot Pen Tennis event -- a final U.S. Open tune-up. Bovina eased past the French Open runner-up Dementieva in 6-1, 6-1 fashion in Friday's first semifinal at the Connecticut Tennis Center at Yale. The Moscow native will take on Nathalie Dechy in the title match. Dechy, disposed of Lisa Raymond, 6-4, 6-0, in the second semifinal. Despite suffering an injury to her upper back with a 4-1 lead in the opening set, Dechy bounced back for an easy second set win. She had only four unforced errors in each set. Dechy and Bovina have split two previous meetings. The 21-year-old Bovina is seeking her third career title and will compete in her first final in two years. She's 2-1 in her career WTA finals, with the victories coming in 2002 (Warsaw and Quebec City). Dechy, a Frenchwoman, has one career title. Saturday's champion here will collect $93,000. |
