Barthel through to final

THE ASSOCIATED PRESS

HOBART, Australia -- German qualifier Mona Barthel advanced to the final of the Hobart International with a 6-0, 7-6 (6) win Friday over fourth-seeded compatriot Angelique Kerber.

The 21-year-old Barthel, who is at a career-high ranking of 64, has already beaten second-seeded Anabel Medina Garrigues and fifth-seeded Jarmila Gajdosova of Australia on the way to her first WTA final.

She will meet the winner of Friday night's second semifinal between top-seeded Yanina Wickmayer and sixth-seeded Shahar Peer.

Kerber served for the second set at 5-4 but could not convert two set points and Barthel won the crucial game, chasing down a drop shot and hitting a return passing shot for a winner. Barthel came back from 3-0 down in the tiebreaker.