Arruabarrena returns to Bogota final over Jakupovic

BOGOTA, Colombia - 2012 champion Lara Arruabarrena is through to the Claro Open Colsanitas final for the second year in a row after dispatching Dalila Jakupovic in straight sets.

Earlier in the day, the No.141-ranked Jakupovic survived a two-and-a-half-hour battle against No.2 seed Magda Linette, prevailing in three sets, 6-3, 3-6, 6-1. But she didn’t seem to have enough left in the tank against No.5 seed Arruabarrena, falling 6-1, 6-2 after just 50 minutes.

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Jakupovic’s fatigue was clearly evident as Arruabarrena broke twice and got off to a 4-0 lead in barely 10 minutes. Her opponent was struggling to win points, and found herself outplayed in longer rallies. Arruabarrena also enjoyed plenty of free points - Jakupovic struck 18 unforced errors in the first set alone against the Spaniard’s four, and 35 in the match in total to Arruabarrena's 10.

An Arruabarrena double fault gave Jakupovic a chance to get on the score board, breaking at 5-1. But the Spaniard was undaunted, breaking straight back to close out the set just as the rain that has plagued the Bogota schedule all week long threatened to return.

The pair played through the drizzle, and Arruabarrena once again rocketed ahead to a daunting 4-0 lead with a pair of breaks under her belt. Just as in the first set, Jakupovic got on the board at 5-1, but this time she found a late second wind and broke Arruabarrena.

But Arruabarrena broke once more to close out the match, winning 6-1, 6-2 after 50 minutes. She’ll get the resurgent Anna Karolina Schmiedlova in the final as she seeks her third WTA title.

More to follow...