American Mattek sets up Quebec final against Petrova

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QUEBEC CITY -- American Bethanie Mattek gained her first WTA Tour final at the Bell Challenge on Saturday, and will finish her breakthrough year in a matchup against Russian Nadia Petrova.

The sixth-seeded Mattek defeated fifth-seeded Aleksandra Wozniak 7-6 (4), 6-3 of Canada in one semifinal, while top-seeded Petrova defeated first-time tour semifinalist Angela Haynes of the United States 6-1, 6-3.

Petrova, who hasn't dropped a set this week, will meet Mattek for the first time.

Petrova, ranked among the top 10 for most of the last four years, will be playing in her fourth final this year, hoping to add to the Cincinnati title she won in August.

Mattek was ranked 153rd in April before turning around her career with a hot streak in May and July. She qualified for the French Open and reached the second round, made the grass semifinals at Birmingham, the fourth round of Wimbledon, and the semifinals at Los Angeles, after which she made her top-50 debut.

A back injury hampered her in late summer, and this week was her first tournament since the U.S. Open.

Copyright 2008 by The Associated Press

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