The shocks continued in Linz as Anna-Lena Friedsam, ranked 118, defeated the 57 ranked player Johanna Larsson in a close match 6-3, 4-6, 7-5.
Friedsam broke early in the first set, and held the single break all the way. The German converted the only break point of the first set, and surprisingly was strong on her own serve, winning more than 60% of points on both her first and second serves.
Larsson, who had won the only previous encounter between this two in Gastaad, restored the form book in set two, breaking twice and though Friedsam pulled a break back, Larsson held to level.
The final set became a much cagier affair, with five breaks of serve. Friedsam was the beneficiary of the uncertainty, breaking Larsson at six-five and she served for the match. Larsson showed some fight, forcing thirty-forty. Friedsam missed her serve, but Larsson still could not break, and Friedsam served out to reach her first WTA Tour final.
The second match of the day saw Pavlyuchenkova take on another surprising semi-finalist in Kirsten Flipkens. The seventh seed and world no. 29 Pavlyuchenkova was finally able to restores some normality, though it took three sets to do it, as Flipkens staged a second set comeback. The World no. 29 did eventually come through though the winner, 6-3, 3-6, 6-2 . The match was punctuated by numerous injury time-outs for both players, Pavlyuchenkova troubled by a left thigh, and Flipkens by a leg injury. Pavlyuchenkova ran away with the final set as Flipkens looked increasingly uncomfortable.
Despite the strong performances this week, it comes too late for Pavlyuchenkova to mount a charge for Singapore. Both Anna-Lena Freidsam and Kirsten Flipkens will benefit enough to return to the Top 100. Both now put themselves in a strong position to gain direct entry to the Australian Open in January.
It will be Pavlyuchenkova second final of the year, after she lost to Sloane Stephens in Washington DC. It will be a first ever final for Anna-Lena Friedsam.
