Sat Jun 14 12:29:14 2008

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Kirilenko advances to Barcelona final

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Barcelona, Spain (Sports Network) - Second-seeded Russian Maria Kirilenko downed France's Stephanie Cohen-Aloro Saturday to advance to the final of the $145,000 clay-court Barcelona KIA tennis event.

The 21-year-old Kirilenko, the only seed still standing here in the semifinals, moved on with a 7-5, 6-3 win over Cohen-Aloro, who was appearing in only her second career WTA Tour semifinal and her first in four years.

In the other semi, Maria Jose Martinez Sanchez won a matchup with fellow Spaniard Nuria Llagostera Vives, 2-6, 6-3, 6-1, to move in to her first career final.

The 2008 Barcelona champion will collect $22,900.