In the first set both players had trouble holding on to their service. Out of the twelve service games nine were broken. Anabel Medina Garrigues took a 5-3 lead but could not take the set.

At 5 all Koukalova was growing into the match and delivered well placed winners and she had won her own service game for the first time in the match on love. The Czech started to hit the balls deep down the line and gave the Spanish fury a good runner. Medina Garrigues had started shouting fire and brimstone in Spanish words you don’t pick up from the average Spanish language home study.

On 30-40 Koukalova breaks for 6-5 hitting a backhand drive down the line. Medina Garrigues tried to outsmart Koukalova with a dropshot but that didn’t to reach the net and the ball dropped dead on her own courtside.

On 40-30 Koukalova held her second own service game to win the set 7-5.

At the start of the second Koukalova broke Medina Garrigues’ with two winners, a double fault and a ball long by the Spaniard. Soon the Czech was leading 3-0 after holding her third service game of the match and breaking Medina Garrigues’ again.

After Medina Garrigues serves two double faults and a winner for Koukalova it was deuce. Koukalova takes advantage on the Spanish second serve after a foot fault, the sloppy second serve is answered with a crosscourt winner. Klara Koukalova hits another winner to take the game a 3-0 lead.

During changeover the medic is called for Medina Garrigues. She starts to cry and retires with a left abdominal strain. An injury she had before and that caused a lot of pain.

Klara Koukalova reaches the final and will meet Mary Pierce or Lina Krasnoroutskaya on Saturday at noon.