Gisela Dulko, Arantxa Santonja cruise into the final at Abierto Mexicano Telcel Tennis Championship
Gisela Dulko and Arantxa Parra Santonja successfully did away with their semi-final opponents and cruised into the final of Abierto Mexicano Telcel Tennis Championships 2011, a WTA event held annually in Acapulco, Mexico.
The Argentinean defeated Spaniard Anabel Medina Garrigues in straight sets 6-0, 6-2 in the semi-final to reach her first WTA final of this season. Ranked 73rd in the world, Dulko had a forgettable start to 2011. She
was knocked out in the first round of Medibank International by Czech Lucie Hradecka. She then returned to the tour at the Australian Open where she lost to the might of world number one Caroline Wozniacki. But here she came alive on the clay courts at The
Fairmont Acapulco Princess in Mexico, fighting through the first three stages and then securing an easy win in the semis.
Dulko, who has hit her peak form just at the right time, lost only two games in the first set. The Argentinean star then completely dominated the second set with her magnificent forehands as she made quick work of her opponent
to secure a 6-2, 6-0 win in one hour and nine minutes.
"It was the best match of the tournament for me. Anabel is a great competitor. She was giving it her all until the end but I played very well today. It feels great to be in a singles final again," Dulko, the world's No.1 doubles
player, said. "It's even better to do it here in Acapulco because I feel so much support here. They make me feel like I'm at home. I've always loved it here."
Her opponent Medina Garrigues, who was ranked just over 30 one year ago, slipped to number 92 in the rankings after her miserable run. She came into this popular international stop having lost first round in her last 10 WTA tournaments
but restored her lost pride to some extent by upsetting top seed Julia Georges and then Carla Suarez Navarro. In a post match interview she said that her wins over two great players will lift her up for the rest of the season.
In the other semi-final the 28 year old Arantxa Parra Santonja crushed Swede Johanna Larrson in a similar fashion 6-0, 6-2 to play second WTA final of her career after she took only 58 minutes to wrap up the match.
"I played unbelievable today," Parra Santonja said. "I was solid and hardly made any mistakes. I enjoyed the match a lot and hopefully I can do that again in the final. I don't mind who I play - it will be a tough match either
way."
Parra Santonja, who has become the first Spanish player to make it to the finals in the 11-year history of this premier event, leads the head-to-head 1-0 against Dulko. Their only meeting was recorded on the same clay surface,
but that was almost eight years ago. Dulko on the other hand is not the first Argentinean player to reach the final of this popular event, however, she will certainly try and become the first one to win it.
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