AUCKLAND, New Zealand – Fifth-seeded American Sloane Stephens coped with an overnight rain break and a stern rally from Caroline Wozniacki to advance to the final of the ASB Classic with a 6-2, 2-6, 7-6 (3) victory Saturday.
Stephens led 5-2 in the first set when rain curtailed the match on Friday night, forcing it to be decided Saturday only hours before the scheduled final.
After clinching the first set, Stephens saw Wozniacki hit back strongly to take the second and to make the third set tight until the American controlled the tiebreak. Stephens hurried to a 5-2 lead before clinching the match with her fifth ace.
It was her first win in six meetings with Wozniacki, who was last year's beaten finalist in Auckland. She will play Germany's Julia Goerges in the final.
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