Smashnova Takes Perfect Finals Record Into Budapest Championship

The No.8-seeded Smashnova was a semifinal victor at the $145,000, Tier IV event Saturday, defeating Martina Muller -- the 2002 champion here -- by a 64 63 scoreline.

Smashnova, 30, was simply too consistent for the unseeded German, who was appearing in her first Tour semifinal since that title run here four years ago. Additionally, Muller needed more than three hours to win her quarterfinal on Friday over Eva Birnerova, while Smashnova conceded just four games in her match the previous day.

Between 1999 and 2005, Smashnova reached 11 Sony Ericsson WTA Tour singles finals -- and won them all. From 1999 Tashkent to 2005 Budapest, the five-feet-two Smashnova has maintained that perfect record, and against Spain's Lourdes Dominguez Lino she'll be looking to make it an even dozen.

Should Smashnova win Sunday's final and the $22,900 champion's cheque, it will mark the first time in her career that she has successfully defended a Tour singles title. She has dropped just one set en route to the championship match -- in the first round against Eleni Daniilidou -- posting two-set wins thereafter over Laura Pous Tio, Catalina Castano (in a repeat of last year's final) and Muller.

Dominguez Lino, who stands five-feet-four -- naturally intends to rain on Smashnova's parade. On Saturday, the No.5 seed upset Dutch No.2 seed Michaella Krajicek, 63 64, to reach her second Tour final of 2006.

The 25-year-old Spaniard won her career-first title in Bogota in February, has yet to drop a set this week, having beaten Ekaterina Bychkova, Lucie Hradecka and Romina Oprandi in the first three rounds.

Krajicek made up for her singles loss by advancing to the doubles final with Janette Husarova, the partner with whom she won her first Tour doubles title last week in Palermo.

The No.3-seeded duo defeated Eva Birnerova and Stephanie Foretz, 61, 75, on Saturday and will meet Hradecka and Renata Voracova for the title. The unseeded Czechs won their semifinal over No.2 seeds Daniilidou and Jasmin Woehr on Friday.
-- WTA