Dushevina, Hradecka win Istanbul Cup semis

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ISTANBUL, Turkey, Aug. 1 (UPI) -- Fifth-seeded Vera Dushevina and eighth-seeded Lucie Hradecka were Saturday's semifinal winners at the Istanbul Cup tennis tournament.

Both women will have a chance to earn their first career title when they play Sunday.

Dushevina downed Switzerland's Timea Bacsinszky 6-2, 6-4. Hradecka rallied to beat Germany's Andrea Petkovic 6-7 (5-7), 7-5, 7-5.

"I'm so happy because I'm in the final," Hradecka said. "I know it's going to be a tough match (Sunday), but I'll just try and play my best."

The 22-year-old Dushevina, a runner-up three times in her career, also reached the semis two weeks ago at the Prague Open.

"(Sunday) is going to be my fifth match here and I hope it's going to be good," Hradecka, a native of the Czech Republic, said.

Sunday's winner will collect $37,000.