Kirilenko makes Barcelona final

BARCELONA, Spain, June 14 (UPI) -- No. 2 seed Maria Kirilenko of Russia beat unseeded Stephanie Cohen-Aloro 7-5, 6-3 in Saturday's semifinals at the Barcelona (Spain) KIA tennis tournament.

The 21-year-old Kirilenko, the only seed to advance to the tournament's final four, was appearing in just her second career semifinal on the women's tennis tour, and her first in four years.

Despite squandering a 5-2 first set advantage, she rallied back to win it after a 5-5 tie.

In the second set, Kirilenko overcame two possible breaks of her service before achieving victory.

In Saturday's other semifinal, Maria Jose Martinez Sanchez won a match-up against fellow Spaniard Nuria Llagostera Vives 2-6, 6-3, 6-1, advancing to her first career final.