Dechy dumps Mauresmo to reach first WTA final in four years

0 Comments | AFP, August, 2008

CINCINNATI, Ohio (AFP) — Nathalie Dechy reached her first final in four years by beating Amelie Mauresmo 6-4, 3-6, 6-2 in the semi-finals of the WTA Western and Southern Financial Group on Saturday.

It was just the third win for Dechy over her French compatriot Mauresmo in eight attempts.

The 29-year-old Dechy also broke a three-match losing streak against Mauresmo en route to reaching a final for the first time since New Haven in 2004.

Dechy also was able to stop the momentum of Mauresmo, a two-time Grand Slam champion who had been playing well. Mauresmo was in her first semi-final of the year. She recently moved up to 35th in the world rankings.

Dechy will face No. 2 Nadia Petrova in the final. Petrova rebounded from a slow start to post a 1-6,...