Bartoli to meet Rezai in all-French Bali finall

By Barry Wood

BALI (Reuters) - Marion Bartoli will play Aravane Rezai in an all-French final at the Tournament of Champions in Bali after both claimed straight-sets victories on Saturday.

Bartoli reached her fourth final of the season by defeating Japan's Kimiko Date Krumm 6-1 6-3, while Rezai beat Spain's Maria Jose Martinez Sanchez 6-2 6-3.

Date Krumm, at 39 the oldest player on the WTA Tour, was seeking her second final of the year after winning the Korea Open in September.

However, Bartoli came out all guns blazing, breaking her opponent in the opening game when Date Krumm netted a forehand and then firing three aces and a service winner to hold for 2-0.

Date Krumm made too many unforced errors against her French foe, who broke again for 3-0, and after conceding her own serve by netting a backhand Bartoli then won the final three games of the set.

Bartoli continued to dominate in the second set, building a 5-0 lead and earning match point when Date Krumm double-faulted. But a forehand down the line that landed wide sparked a brief fightback from Date Krumm.

She held serve for the first time in the match, broke for 5-2 and then held two break points at 5-3 to get back on serve before Bartoli closed out the contest on her third match point.

"Until 6-1 5-1 it was absolutely perfect", said Bartoli, who will bid to add to the titles she won this year in Monterrey and Stanford.