Hantuchova, Kirilenko make Thai finals

Daniela Hantuchova and Maria Kirilenko posted wins Saturday that lifted them into the finals of the PTT Pattaya Open tennis tournament in Thailand. Hantuchova, the No. 3 seed and tournament defending champion, defeated qualifier Hsieh Su-Wei 6-4, 6-1. She claimed a tight first set but put the match away when she saved all four break point she faced and broke Hsieh's serve three times in the second. Kirilenko, seeded fourth, edged past seventh-seeded Sorana Cirstea 6-2, 5-7, 6-4 in 2 1/2 hours. Kirilenko lost her serve three times in the second set when Cirstea evened the match but had a pair of third-set breaks to advance. Hantuchova is 4-2 lifetime against Kirilenko but they haven't met in a WTA event since 2008. Hantuchova is 4-9 in her previous title match appearances. Her straight-set win over Kaia Kanepi in the 2011 final in Pattaya is her most recent championship. Kirilenko is 5-4 in finals, with her latest title coming in Seoul in 2008.