FLORIANOPOLIS, Brazil, March 1 (UPI) -- Olga Puchkova surprised Venus Williams in their first career meeting Friday to reach the championship match of the Brazil Tennis Cup.
Puchkova, born in Moscow and now a resident of Florida, had lost six of her 10 matches on the WTA Tour this year before defeating Williams 4-6, 6-4, 7-5. The match lasted 2 hours, 31 minutes.
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The unseeded Puchkova will meet Monica Niculescu in the title match after Niculescu defeated Kristina Mladenovic 6-0, 6-2.
Neither of the finalists has won a tour championship, and they will be meeting for the first time.
