Tasmanian final set
Grande downs Frazier; Rubin advances in walkover
Posted: Thursday January 14, 1999 11:10 PM
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Grande played big: Rita kept Frazier on her heels with powerful serving Tom Hauck/Allsport |
HOBART, Australia (AP) -- Unseeded Italian Rita Grande reached her first Women's Tennis Association final when she beat American Amy Frazier 6-3, 7-5 Friday in a semifinal at the Tasmanian International tournament.
Grande will meet American Chanda Rubin, who advanced to the final when top seed Julie Halard-Decugis of France withdrew because of a strained stomach muscle before the start of her semifinal.
Grande served 11 aces and frequently had Frazier on the defensive with her powerful forehand drives.
Halard-Decugis fell victim to her punishing schedule which included wins in the last two WTA events in Pattaya, Thailand, and Auckland.
She played six sets on Thursday, three in singles and then three in doubles.
She said she found Friday morning she could not serve freely and was anxious to protect herself for the Australian Open.
Halard-Decugis came on to court at the end of the first semifinal, apologized to the crowd and promised to come back next year.
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