Ekaterina Alexandrova made it to her second WTA Tour final by beating Garbiñe Muguruza 6-4, 6-2 on Friday at the Shenzhen Open.
The fifth-seeded Russian lost to the 2017 Wimbledon champion in straight sets in the first round three years ago.
“It was a tough match right from the start,” Alexandrova said. “I was calmer than yesterday and that helped a lot. I’m happy I did my best and I hope I can do it tomorrow.”
Alexandrova last played in a WTA Tour final in Linz, Austria, two years ago and will have a chance to win her maiden title when she takes on Elena Rybakina in Saturday’s final.
The seventh-seeded Rybakina defeated Kristyna Pliskova 6-2, 7-5 in the other semifinal match.
