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Bertens returns to St. Petersburg final, to face in-form Rybakina

We’re still only in February and world No.25 Elena Rybakina of Kazakhstan has already advanced to her third final of the season at the St. Petersburg Ladies Trophy, where she’ll face defending champion Kiki Bertens.

After saving two match points in the quarterfinals again Oceane Dodin, 20-year-old Elena Rybakina produced another come-from-behind victory to reach her first Premier-level final, winning nine of the last ten games to overcome sixth seed Maria Sakkari 3-6 7-5 6-1. Trailing 6-3 5-4, the eighth-seeded Rybakina recorded a love hold and a love break, and then saved a break point to force the third set after winning 13 of the last 16 points in the second set.