Suarez Navarro reaches final in Miami
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}Miami, FL (SportsNetwork.com) - Nifty Spaniard Carla Suarez Navarro secured a berth in Saturday's final at the $5.3 million Miami Open.
The 12th seed blew past ninth-seeded German Andrea Petkovic 6-3, 6-3 in 1 hour, 27 minutes in Thursday's semifinal action at Crandon Park.
Suarez Navarro is now 3-2 lifetime against "Petko," including 1-1 this year. The German topped the Spaniard in a final in Antwerp back in February.
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}The 26-year-old Suarez Navarro will meet world No. 1 great Serena Williams or third-seeded French Open runner-up Simona Halep in the Miami championship bout.
Suarez Navarro owns one title on the WTA circuit, and that came last year in Oeiras, Portugal. She's 1-6 in her career finals, including the loss in Antwerp this season.
Williams is a seven-time Miami champ and two-time runner-up. She beat Li Na in last year's final for a second straight title at this event.
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}The 33-year-old reigning Australian and U.S. Open champion has won her last 19 matches on tour and 16 straight matches in Miami.
Meanwhile, the in-form Halep has won her last 15 matches on tour, which includes a title at Indian Wells prior to this Miami fortnight.
Williams and Halep were set to have their first meeting in 2015 in the semifinals at Indian Wells two weeks ago, but Williams was forced to withdraw before the match due to a right knee injury.
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}The powerful Williams is 4-1 lifetime against the talented Romanian Halep.