Kuznetsova dumps Azarenka on road to Rome finals

Rome, May 08: Svetlana Kuznetsova stormed into Rome finals on Saturday after beating teenager Victoria Azarenka 6-2, 6-4.

It is the second consecutive final for the eighth-ranked Russian, who won the Porsche GP in Stuttgart, Germany, last week.

Kuznetsova broke Azarenka three times to capture the first set in 41 minutes.

In the second, the sixth-seeded Azarenka pushed ahead with a break but appeared to lose her concentration as she disputed a call by the umpire in the third game. She lost the next five games and surrendered on the fourth match point.

Kuznetsova will face either top-ranked Dinara Safina or Venus Williams.

Kuznetsova beat Safina in straight sets in Stuttgart, for her first title in almost two years.