Italy's Errani powers into second Dubai tennis final
Sara Errani reached her second final at the Dubai Tennis Championships on Friday as she defeated Ukrainian Elina Svitolina 6-4, 6-4.
The Dubai event, now holding an unenviable WTA record after all eight seeds lost in the first two rounds, is struggling through, with Errani to face the winner from Czech Barbora Strycova and Caroline Garcia of France in the final.
Errani, ranked 22nd, took almost two hours to hold off her 21st-ranked opponent, finishing with 31 unforced errors and just a dozen winners under a hot desert sun.
The Italian will be playing in her 19th career final and bidding for her ninth singles title. She holds leads against both potential opponents, standing 4-2 against Garcia and 5-1 over Strycova.
Errani took five of 14 break point opportunites, while losing her own serve three times.
"It was really tough today, it was hot," she said. "Most of the games were very long with a lot of points.
"I just tried to play focused on every one. I'm really excited to play another final, it's amazing."
Errani finished runner-up in 2013 to Petra Kvitova at the Aviation Club.