Safarova, Azarenka into Qatar Open Final

Doha, February 27 (QNA) - Wimbledon semi-finalist Lucie Safarova breezed through to her first ever Qatar Open final, comprehensively beating Carla Suarez Navarro in straight sets on Friday. Left-hander Safarova won 6-3 6-2 in a semi-final which she totally dominated and lasted little over an hour. The Czech broke the Spaniard's serve in the second game of the first set and was rarely troubled by her opponent. She dropped her serve just once, in the seventh game of the first set, but immediately broke back to restore her advantage and served out for the set straight after. A demoralized Suarez Navarro, who had knocked out number one seed Petra Kvitova in the quarter-finals, had few answers to the Czech's powerful groundstrokes and ended up losing tamely. It was only the third time the pair had played each other, Safarova also winning the two previous encounters. Former world number Victoria Azarenka joined Safarova in the final game by beating Venus Williams 2-6, 6-2, 6-4. The Belarussian, 25, lost most of 2014 to a foot injury putting her now in 48th in the world ranking. Twice winner of the tournament, Azarenka beat Safarova in the last six games between the pair. (QNA)