FEZ, Morocco(AP) Ekaterina Makarova reached the final of the Grand Prix SAR on Friday after beating Russian compatriot Alisa Kleybanova 6-2, 6-1, setting up a meeting with top-seeded Anabel Medina Garrigues.
Medina Garrigues advanced when Melinda Czink retired after losing the first set 6-0 in the other semifinal.
The second-seeded Kleybanova struggled with her serve against Makarova and was broken seven times in eight service games, while managing two breaks of her own.
The sixth-seeded Makarova, who is chasing her first WTA Tour title, failed to serve out the match at 5-0, squandering two match points before losing the game. However, she quickly broke back to clinch the win.