Paris, February 10:

Top-seeded Anna Chakvetadze beat Marion Bartoli 2-6, 6-2, 6-0 on Saturday to face Agnes Szavay in the final of the Open Gaz de France.

The Russian cruised through the third set, breaking Wimbledon finalist Bartoli three times. Chakvetadze converted her first match point after a backhand into the net by Bartoli. Chakvetadze lost her serve twice in the first set, landing only 39 per cent of her first serves.

Seventh-seeded Szavay outlasted fourth-seeded Elena Dementieva 6-3, 1-6, 7-5. The Hungarian converted her first match point after a forehand error from Dementieva. At 5-4 in the third set, Dementieva was serving for the match but couldn’t finish it off, firing a backhand wide to let Szavay break back to level 5-5.

A long backhand return from Dementieva gave Szavay the first set. Out of frustration, Dementieva slammed her racket against the ground. Dementieva struggled on her serve in the first set, hitting four double faults. Szavay broke Dementieva twice to lead 2-0 and 4-0. But the Russian took Szavay’s serve on a double fault before winning her service game to cut the deficit to 4-2.