FÈS, Morocco - Top-seeded Anabel Medina Garrigues and sixth-seeded Ekaterina Makarova cruised past semifinal opponents on Friday to set up a clash in the final of the Grand Prix de SAR La Princesse Lalla Meryem on Saturday.
Medina Garrigues had won the first set against Melinda Czink, 6-0, when the Hungarian retired with a gastrointestinal illness just 24 minutes into the match. This was the first time in three career matches, all on clay, that the two didn't split sets, with the 26-year-old Spaniard now holding a 2-1 edge in the series.
The 20-year-old Makarova was on the court a bit longer, 59 minutes, but also recorded an easy win, 62 61, over second-seeded Alisa Kleybanova to reach her first career Sony Ericsson WTA Tour singles final. She now holds a 2-0 record in the series with her fellow Russian, with whom she is also playing doubles this week.
Medina Garrigues is trying to become the second player in 2009 to win a Tour singles title after saving match points, as she saved three in her 16 76(1) 63 second round victory against Klara Zakopalova. The only player to achieve the feat so far this year is Caroline Wozniacki, who saved four match points against Elena Vesnina in the semifinals of Ponte Vedra Beach before going on to win the title.
Makarova has had a much easier time in this event, having yet to surrender a set, however, she lost her only match against Medina Garrigues, last year in straight sets in Portoroz. Medina Garrigues is 8-5 in Tour singles finals in her career, including a loss here last year at the hands of Gisela Dulko, and seven of her eight titles have been on clay.
