ROME(AP) Svetlana Kuznetsova reached the Rome finals after defeating teenager Victoria Azarenka of Belarus 6-2, 6-4 on Friday.
Kuznetsova has reached her second consecutive final after winning the Porsche GP last week in Stuttgart, Germany.
The eighth-ranked Kuznetsova broke Azarenka three times to capture the first set in 41 minutes.
In the second, the ninth-ranked Azarenka pushed ahead with a break but appeared to lose her concentration as she disputed a call by the umpire in the third game. She lost the next five games and fell on the fourth match point.
Kuznetsova will face either top-ranked Dinara Safina or No. 5 Venus Williams.
Kuznetsova beat Safina in straight sets in Stuttgart, her first title in almost two years.