Daria Kasatkina ends Johanna Konta’s Moscow run as Ons Jabeur creates history

Shahida Jacobs
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Daria Kasatkina celebrates

Daria Kasatkina and Ons Jabeur will contest the 2018 Kremlin Cup final.

Sixth seed Kasatkina, who is looking to go one better this year having finished runner-up to Julia Goerges in 2017, saw off the challenge of Johanna Konta in straight sets.

The Russian secured a 6-4, 6-3 win over the British No 1.

Kasatkina broke in game four, but Konta hit back in game nine only for the Russian to break again in the next game.

Konta had the early advantage in the second set with a break in game one, but Kasatkina then broke in her next two service games to set up the win.

“It was pretty fast, so I’m happy that I didn’t lose so much energy in the semi-final, and I’m quite fresh before the final,” Kasatkina said.

She will face Jabeur in the final after the world No 101 beat Anastasija Sevastova 6-3, 3-6, 6-3 in one hour and 37 minutes to become the first Tunisian to reach a WTA Tour final.

“This is really amazing and I’m really happy. I gave it all today, and it wasn’t easy because she plays really good,” the 24-year-old said.

“Maybe I was too relaxed in the second set. At the end, I stayed calm. It was a little bit frustrating because I missed some easy balls, but I said I was just going to play my game, and if it goes, it goes.”

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