Unseeded Krajicek One Win from WTA Hobart Title

Unseeded Michaella Krajicek of The Netherlands will compete for her second WTA title Friday in the final of the WTA stop at Hobart after defeating unseeded Croatian Jelena Kostanic 6-4, 6-2 in the Thursday semifinals.

"I was serving well and I was really happy with the way I played," the teenage Krajicek said. "In the second set she made some mistakes and her serve wasn't going that well so that was good for me of course."

In the final the Dutchwoman is in for a first-time meeting with No. 5-seeded Czech Iveta Benesova, who came from a set down to beat Italian Mara Santangelo 6-1 in the third.

"I was down in the first set and I'm really happy I came back and found a way to win the match," said Benesova, who won her lone tour title in 2004. "It's definitely good for my confidence to know that I can win tough matches. It's not good for my energy though, I feel a little tired after."

While they have never faced each other in tour play, Krajicek and Benesova will draw on their practice court experience in the Friday final.

"I know a lot about her," Krajicek said. "We've practiced three years together because I live partly in the Czech Republic because my parents are from there. It's going to be a tough match but hopefully we'll have some fun because we're friends. She's got a good return. Maybe my serve is a little bit better but I think her return is better than mine so it's going to be tough."

In the doubles final top seeds Nicole Pratt and Emilie Loit will face No. 5 seeds Jill Craybas and Kostanic.