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Favourite Remains Intact
Date: 8 January 2010
Italian favourite Flavia Pennetta continued to breeze through the ASB Classic draw and secured her spot in the singles final with a comprehensive 6-3 6-0 whitewash of compatriot Francesca Schiavone in the second semi.
Pennetta took just 56 minutes - the quickest match in a week of one-sided affairs - to dismiss her Federation Cup team-mate and doubles partner, breaking her in the third game of the first set and almost at will thereafter.
"I was very nervous in the beginning, because we know each other so well and it is not easy to ply one of your best friends," said Pennetta. "She also was very nervous and didn''t play so well.
"She didn''t see a way to make any winners, so she try to make different things ... but made more mistakes."
"I am very happy. In the end, I was playing better and better, and made no mistakes."
Pennetta now advances to a meeting with third seed Yanina Wickmayer of Belgium. In their only previous meeting, Wickmayer defeated Pennetta 7-6(5) 6-3 on hard court at Linz last year.
Having just walked off the court from a doubles semifinal loss, the Italian had not really considered how she would attack her opponent in the KIA Motors Singles final.
"I don''t know ... I didn''t think about her. I have to play very aggressive, very consistent from the beginning.
"She always play one way - hit hard the ball - so I have to move her a lot. She has more power, so if I make it power, I lose.
"To be better, I have to try different things."
