Sydney, Australia (SportsNetwork.com) - Czech stars Petra Kvitova and Karolina Pliskova will be the combatants in Friday's final at the Sydney International tennis event, a final hardcourt Australian Open tune-up.
Thursday's semifinals saw the second-seeded Wimbledon champion Kvitova defeat qualifier and defending Sydney titlist Tsvetana Pironkova of Bulgaria 7-5, 6-1 and Pliskova oust fifth-seeded 2014 Sydney runner-up Angelique Kerber of Germany 6-3, 6-2. Pironkova upset Kerber in last year's final.
The 24-year-old Kvitova is 14-5 in her career finals, including Wimbledon titles last year and in 2011. She was 3-1 in her 2014 title tilts.
The rising Pliskova is 3-3 in her WTA finals, including 2-3 last year.
Kvitova is 1-0 lifetime against Pliskova, with the win coming on a hardcourt in Wuhan, China, last season.
Friday's winner will take home $124,000.
Receive your weekly recap of all the happenings around the world of sports.