• Kremlin Cup

Azarenka breezes into Kremlin Cup final

Victoria Azarenka was totally dominant in her semi-final win © Getty Images

Enlarge

Related Links

• News: Azarenka takes title to Doha
  
• News: Third time lucky for Troicki
  
• News: Azarenka breezes into Kremlin Cup final
  
• News: Cuevas continues Kremlin Cup run
  
• Profile: Victoria Azarenka | Marcos Baghdatis | Maria Jose Martinez Sanchez

Victoria Azarenka booked her place in the final of the Kremlin Cup with a fabulous display to beat Maria Jose Martinez Sanchez 6-3 6-3.

The Belarusian had seen a host of seeds fall by the wayside, but she was not weighed down by her No. 2 ranking as she dominated from the outset and powered through in an hour and 17 minutes.

Martinez Sanchez is strong from the back of the court and hit some big shots early in the match, but Azarenka weathered the storm before securing a break in the sixth.

Azarenka mixed up power with subtle slices and it appeared to upset Martinez Sanchez's rhythm as she could not get to grips with her opponent.

The second set followed a similar pattern to the first, with Azarenka moving her opponent along the baseline and taking her opportunities at the net. The world No. 10 was not afraid to advance from the baseline and showed solidity on the volley.

She secured an early break and with the pressure off, produced some glorious tennis. The point of the match came in the eighth game as Azarenka executed a fine running lob before advancing and putting away a great forehand volley at full stretch.

Martinez Sanchez became so frustrated that she attempted to serve and volley at 5-3 down, but it only provided Azarenka with a target to pass, which she did on a couple of occasions, and the victory was wrapped up when Martinez Sanchez threw a forehand over the baseline.

Maria Kirilenko stands between Azarenka and the title after her 6-1 6-1 win over fellow Russian Vera Dushevina. Kirilenko was dominant throughout, having raced into a 5-0 lead, and the onslaught drained the confidence from Dushevina who proved particularly frail under the high ball and it was somewhat appropriate that the match was closed when Dushevina threw a smash into the tramlines.

In the men's draw, fourth seed Marcos Baghdatis dug deep to edge past Denis Istomin to reach his third final of the season. Baghdatis fired 16 aces but had to work hard for his 6-4 6-7(5) 7-6(2) win over the Uzbekh No. 1.

After winning the opening set, Baghdatis could not find a way past Istomin as the world No. 46 forced the match to a decider after edging a tiebreak. He carried the momentum over into the final set to grab a crucial break, but Baghdatis battled back to seal the match in the tiebreak. Baghdatis will play Viktor Troicki in the final after the Serb beat the in-form Pablo Cuevas 6-3 6-3.

© ESPN Sports Media Ltd.