Sat Jul 12 16:05:52 2008

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Pennetta, Medina Garrigues upset in Palermo semis

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Palermo, Italy (Sports Network) - Top-seeded Italian favorite Flavia Pennetta was upended and four-time champion Anabel Medina Garrigues of Spain also suffered defeat in Saturday's semifinals at the Palermo International tennis tournament.

Pennetta, who pasted Georgian qualifier Margalita Chakhnashvili 6-1, 6-1, to gain the semifinals, suffered a 5-7, 3-6 setback to countrywoman and fifth- seeded Sara Errani.

Medina Garrigues, who won the title here in 2001 and from 2004-06, held off eighth-seeded Italian Tathiana Garbin in three sets Friday, only to see Mariya Koryttseva of the Ukraine take a 6-2, 6-2 decision and advance to Sunday's final.

On Friday, Errani was leading fourth-seeded Spaniard Carla Suarez Navarro 4-1 before Navarro retired due to a finger injury. The seventh-seeded Koryttseva handled Russian Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova 7-6 (7-4), 6-3.

Errani, who lost in the first round at Wimbledon, is a two-time singles winner in her brief career. Koryttseva also bowed out in the first round in London, and has yet to win a title this year. She reached the semifinal round in Vina Del Mar.

The 2008 Palermo titlist will take home $23,000.