Fri Jun 20 13:45:29 2008

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Radwanska, Petrova will decide Eastbourne champion

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Eastbourne, England (Sports Network) - Rising star Agnieszka Radwanska of Poland and eighth-seeded Russian Nadia Petrova won Friday's semifinal matches and will compete in Saturday's title bout at the $600,000 International Women's Open, a final Wimbledon tuneup.

The fourth-seeded Radwanska took out second-seeded 2007 Wimbledon runner-up Marion Bartoli of France 7-5, 6-3, while Petrova pasted Aussie Samantha Stosur 6-3, 6-3 on the grass courts at Devonshire Park International Tennis Centre.

Radwanska needed just over an hour-and-a-half to dismiss a sloppy Bartoli, who piled up seven double faults and had her serve broken four times.

The 19-year-old Radwanska is 3-0 in her career finals, including wins in Pattaya City and Istanbul already this year, while Petrova is 7-8 in her title matches and will perform in her first final of 2008.

Radwanska is 1-0 lifetime versus the 26-year-old Petrova, with the victory coming in the fourth round at this year's Australian Open.

Saturday's titlist will collect $95,500.