Erakovic makes bid for first WTA title

MEMPHIS, Feb. 22 (UPI) -- Marina Erakovic kept alive her hopes of a first WTA title Friday by reaching the finals of the U.S. National Indoor Championships.

Erakovic coasted past Stefanie Voegele 6-2, 6-4 to create a championship match against No. 3 seed Sabine Lisicki.

Lisicki outlasted Magdalena Rybarikova in the other semifinal 7-5, 7-5.

Erakovic has appeared in two previous WTA finals, one of them coming in this tournament a year ago. She lost on that occasion to Sofia Arvidsson.

Lisicki has won two of her three previous meetings with Erakovic, one of the wins being a three-set decision in Thailand three weeks ago. Lisicki has three WTA championships to her credit.