German Mona Barthel will defend her Hobart International WTA title against Russia’s Elena Vesnina in the final on Saturday.
Ninth seed Barthel set up a showdown with Vesnina with a 6-4, 6-4 victory over Belgium’s Kirsten Flipkens in a night semi-final on Friday.
Vesnina, 26, has spent more than seven years in the top 100 and has yet to clinch a title in six finals.
She got another chance to break through for her maiden title following an emphatic 6-2, 6-2 semi-final win over American Sloane Stephens.
Barthel to defend Hobart title against Vesnina
