Russia's Vera Zvonareva overcame a nightmare start in her Pan Pacific Open semi-final Friday, recovering strongly to power past Wimbledon champion Petra Kvitova in straight sets. Zvonareva, struggling with her serve, trailed 0-4 to her Czech opponent in the first set before battling back to win a tie-break then romping through the second set without losing a game to seal a 7-6 (7/2), 6-0 victory.
In the final on Saturday, Zvonareva will take on Agnieszka Radwanska of Poland, who defeated Victoria Azarenka of Belarus 6-3, 4-6, 6-2. The 27-year-old Zvonareva, who hit a total of seven double faults in the first set, used an array of deep returns to attack Kvitova's backhand side as she fought back. "I don't even remember that I was 5-1 down in the first set. I wasn't really thinking about it at all. I was trying to find my rhythm and I couldn't find it in the beginning," said Zvonareva, ranked number four in the world.