Schiavone advances to Moscow final

MOSCOW, Oct. 24 (UPI) -- No. 8 Francesca Schiavone, the only seed left, trounced Alona Bondarenko 6-4, 6-0 Saturday in one semifinal at the Kremlin Cup tennis tournament at Moscow.

The Italian asserted herself after Bondarenko played a close first set, and reached the final a second week in a row. Australia's Samantha Stosur beat her 7-5, 6-1 at last Sunday's Japan Open final.

"My tennis wasn't perfect today, but it was very good," said Schiavone, who secured her victory by winning the match's last seven games. "I was aggressive at the right times and took my chances."

Olga Govortsova of Belarus was Saturday's other winner, pounding Russia's Alisa Kleybanova 6-2, 6-1.

"I'm starting to play really well just as the season is ending," the 21-year-old Govortsova said.

Sunday's Schiavoine-Govortsova winner takes home a $157,427 champion's check.