(Reuters) - Czech Karolina Pliskova stopped upset-maker Varvara Lepchenko in the semi-finals at the Bank of The West Classic in Stanford, California, on Saturday.
Lepchenko had ousted top-seeded Caroline Wozniacki of Denmark earlier in the week, but Pliskova put an end to the Uzbek's run with an impressive 6-2 7-5 victory.
Pliskova will meet fifth-seeded German Angelique Kerber in Sunday's final. Kerber met little resistance in dispatching Elina Svitolina 6-3 6-1.
Fourth seed Pliskova looked to be charging into the final but Lepchenko put up one more gritty stand to test the Czech.
Lepchenko trailed 4-2 in the second set before winning three games in a row to go 5-4 up before Pliskova returned the favor by claiming the next three to close the match out.