By IANS
Stanford (California) : India's Sania Mirza reached her first WTA Tour event final in two years with a three-set victory over Sybille Bammer in the Bank of the West Classic here Saturday.
Mirza topped Austrian number eight seed Bammer – her third seeded victim in a row – 6-2, 5-7, 6-3, reports the WTA Tour website.
In the final she will face top-seeded Russian Anna Chakvetadze, who beat Daniela Hantuchova 6-7 (6/8), 6-3, 6-2.
Mirza had already passed Patty Schnyder and Tatiana Golovin and equalled her best ranking of 31 by making the final.
Mirza, who seemed fully recovered from a knee injury that sidelined her for two months earlier this year, earned a key break in the third set to take a 4-3 advantage.
After holding serve to get to 5-3, she broke Bammer again to secure the win."It was about mental strength," she said.
"It's a great way to start the hard court season. I've had good wins here and I'm hitting the ball well."
World number eight Chakvetadze has won eight consecutive hard court matches and is in position to capture her second straight singles title.
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