Thai star Tamarine Tanasugarn has made it into her first final in a home tournament in 10 years and will face American prodigy Vania King for the singles title in the US$200,000 PTT Bangkok Open at the Rama Gardens this afternoon.

The Thai veteran, now 29, easily defeated ailing French player Severine Bremond - who had a thigh injury - to win yesterday's semi-final 6-2 6-3 after one hour and 26 minutes.

In the other singles semi-final, 17-year-old King shocked former world No 11 and sixth-seeded countrywoman Meghann Shaughnessy 6-1 6-4 in only 72 minutes to make her first tour final. The final can be seen live on iTV today from 3pm.

It has been 10 years since Tamarine made it into the final of a home tournament - she finished as a runner-up in Pattaya in 1996 when she lost to Romanian Ruxandra Dragomir. The Thai last reached a final in Hyderabad, India, in 2003 and went on to claim her first and only WTA trophy.

"I never gave up the dream of winning at home," she said. "I have to thank my parents and especially my coach [Panomkorn Pladchuanil], who have always been supportive even when I'm outside the top 100.

"We have been through difficult times together when I had to play small tournaments to return to the top 100. He [Panomkorn] keeps pushing me through," added the 97th-ranked Tamarine, who has now made seven finals since turning pro in 1994.

Tamarine had to rally back from 0-2 down in both sets to overcome some smart play from Bremond, who is married to her coach Eric. The Thai did an excellent job with her baseline game and chased down a series of drop shots as well as producing good passing shots.

"She played various balls and put pressure on me if I didn't get the first serve in. That's why it was not easy for me at the beginning.

"I was lucky to break her in the sixth game of the second set which was very crucial. If I didn't win that game it could have been more difficult," said Tamarine, who was supported by about 1,500 fans yesterday.

After receiving treatment at 2-3 in the first set, Bremond barely challenged her Thai opponent. But the crucial moment came in set two at 3-2 on the French girl's serve, which went for six long deuces. Tamarine capitalised on her seventh break point opportunity, unleashing a backhand down the line winner. She went on to win the next three games and a chance to play King.

"King is an up coming player who moves well and hits hard. I just have to play my game and be really focused," said Tamarine, who waved and curtsied to her fans after the match.

King, who was born to Taiwanese parents, relied on her booming groundstrokes to beat her error-prone compatriot. She came back from 0-2 down in the second set to reach her second final in Thailand - she won a junior title here last year.

"Again the serves were the key," said King. "I stayed with her all the time while she was up and down and frustrated with herself," added the young American, who has never played Tamarine before.

"I practised with her once in Australia, but I don't know her well. I am looking forward to the final and winning every title will mean the world to me," added King, who also reached the doubles final when she teamed with Jelena Kostanic of Croatia to beat Nicole Pratt of Australia and Shikha Uberoi of India 6-2 6-7 (5-7) 6-1.

King and Kostanic have been in three consecutive doubles finals, in Guangzhou and as winners in Tokyo and now Bangkok.

In the other doubles semi-final, Argentine Mariana Diaz-Oliva and South African Natalie Gradin reached the final after American Jamea Jackson had to retire due to a right thigh strain. Jackson and Taiwanese Chung Chia-jung were 1-4 behind in the first set.

All-Russian final

nIn Moscow, fifth seed Nadia Petrova and Anna Chakvetadze clash in an all-Russian final of the Kremlin Cup after winning their semi-final clashes yesterday.

Petrova, who is seeking her seventh career title and the year's sixth, defeated Nicole Vaidisova of the Czech Republic 6-0 4-6 7-6 (7/3), while Chakvetadze ousted fourth seeded compatriot Elena Dementieva 7-5 3-6 6-0.

"It was difficult and very painful but I really wanted to play in the final in Moscow for the first time and that goal has helped me to win," Petrova said after the match.

"Me and Nicole we both got very tense in the third set. All we had to do was just put the ball on the other side [of the court]."

Lerpong Amsa-ngiam

The Nation