Top seed Ksenia Pervak of Russia advanced to the final of the Tashkent Open without losing a set all week and after trailing 4-1 in the second set against Urszula Radwanska in the semis before winning 6-2 6-4. Pervak’s opponent in the title match will be first-time WTA finalist, Eva Birnerova, who had a retirement victory over Alla Kudryavtseva.
Kudryavtseva considered the Tashkent Open her lucky charm, as she won her maiden title there last year and since then she hadn’t gone further than quarterfinals at any tournament until this week’s Tashkent Open semis. However, her luck in Uzbekistan suffered a setback when the Russian had to withdraw from the match with a left hamstring strain during the second set even though she won the first set 6-3.
Currently ranked 115th, Czech Birnerova is sure to surpass her career high of No.51 regardless of the outcome of the final. It will be the first meeting between her and Pervak.
Notable thing about the Tashkent Open is also the presence of former world No.2 Anastasia Myskina, who became the first Russian woman to win a Grand Slam when she triumphed at the French Open in 2004. The 30-year-old Myskina has been inactive in tennis, focusing on her two small children. Tashkent has a special place in her hearth because she practiced there in her early childhood and she has relatives there since her grandparents are Uzbek. (photo: Ralf Reinecke)
