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Published on February 10, 2008

In the doubles semi-finals, Tamarine Tanasugarn and Romania's Andreea Ehritt Vanc lost to  top duo Chan Yung-jan and Chuang Chia-jung of Taiwan 4-6 5-7. Second-seeded Hsieh Su-wei of Taiwan and  Vania King of the US beat Russians Anastasia and Arina Rodionova 6-7 (3/7) 6-2 10-1.

Top seed Radwanska, 18, exploited a flurry of unforced errors from Russian Ekaterina Bychkova to win 6-1 6-1 in just 54 minutes while Crayas, 16 years her senior, advanced past ailing Akgul Amanmuradova of Uzbekistan 6-4 6-0.

Radwanska, No 21 in the world, is now a shot away from at adding a second career trophy to her cabinet after hoisting the Stockholm Open crown last year. She is yet to drop a set in this year's Pattaya Open.

"She [Bychkova] served well but didn't move well enough. She was probably tired from her semi-final match. I'm happy about my game except for the first game of the second set, when she hit heavy ground strokes with new balls,'' said the 2005 Wimbledon junior champion.

"I'm happy to reach my second final. I enjoyed playing here and the weather was not as hot as yesterday,'' said Radwanska, who beat Craybas 6-2 5-7 6-0 in Eastbourne last year in their only previous meeting.

Radwanska raced to a 4-0 lead before the Russian held her serve. The Pole took the next two games and won the set with a clean forehand winner.

Bychkova managed to break Radwanska at the start of the second set, but that was all that the Polish teenager was willing to surrender. Radwanska took the next six games and finished off her rival with an ace.

It has been five years and 10 months since Craybas reached a final. The 2002 triumph in Tokyo is her first and only to date.  The American was tested by Amanmuradova in the first set before the latter complained of pain in her left leg in the second.

"I was focused on what I wanted to do to think about what was happening. I wanted to play well, take her serves early and hit the angles. I think I did a pretty good job at that,'' said Craybas, who anticipates a close affair against the Pole today.

"We're both fighters and consistent. So I think it will come down to just a few points here and there," Craybas said.

Chakvetadze in semis

Top seed Anna Chakvetadze of Russia battled past former world No 1 Amelie Mauresmo in three sets to advance to the semi-finals of the WTA Paris Indoor Open.

The 20-year-old clenched her fist in delight after achieving her first victory in four meetings against Mauresmo 3-6 6-3 6-3.

She will now meet French No 1 Marion Bartoli, the third seed, who coasted past countrywoman Virginie Razzano, 6-1 7-6 (7/3).

Lerpong Amsa-ngiam

The Nation

Pattaya