NUREMBERG, Germany — Defending champion Kiki Bertens will face Czech qualifier Barbora Krejcikova in the final of the Nuremberg Cup.
The 254th-ranked Krejcikova upset Sorana Cirstea 6-4, 4-6, 6-0 to end the Romanian’s debut at the clay-court tournament, and Bertens advanced in the other semifinal on Friday when Misaki Doi became the sixth player to retire.
Bertens was leading 6-2, 0-1 when Doi retired with a right abdominal injury. The 64th-ranked Japanese player progressed in the first round and quarterfinals when injuries forced Maria Sakkari and then Yaroslava Shvedova to retire.
Laura Siegemund, Eugenie Bouchard, and Alexandra Cadantu also withdrew with injuries from the French Open warmup.
Bertens, who defeated Mariana Duque-Marino 6-2, 6-2 in last year’s final, has a 12-1 all-time win-loss record in Nuremberg.
Krejcikova is going for her first title.
"There are no expectations for me," Krejcikova said. "I will just go out there and try to play my game, try to do my best, fight for every point and just enjoy the final."
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