DEN BOSCH, Netherlands(AP) Belgian teenager Yanina Wickmayer overcame a swirling wind and match-point jitters to defeat Francesca Schiavone 7-6 (3), 2-6, 6-3 Friday and reach the Ordina Open final.
In the men's draw, qualifier Benjamin Becker rallied to beat fourth-seeded Rainer Schuettler 3-6, 7-5, 6-1 in an all-German semifinal. Becker will face either Raemon Sluiter or Ivan Navarro in the final.
After breaking Schiavone with a powerful forehand winner in the eighth game of the final set, Wickmayer squandered three match points - including a double-fault and missing an easy volley at the net - before the Italian hit a backhand service return long.
I was a bit nervous,'' the 19-year-old Wickmayer said.In the end, I was a bit lucky.''
Wickmayer will meet either top-ranked Dinara Safina or defending champion Tamarine Tanasugarn in the final. Safina and Tanasugarn were playing later Friday in a repeat of last year's final that the Thai won in straight sets.
Both Wickmayer and Schiavone were troubled by strong wind gusts blowing across the grass court.
``The wind was a problem, especially against (Schiavone) because she varies her game a lot,'' Wickmayer said.