Top seed Jessica Pegula posted a 7-6 (7/4), 6-3 win over Yulia Putintseva to line up an Adelaide International final on Saturday with US compatriot Madison Keys.
The pair of good friends split their previous two meetings and will meet again on the eve of Sunday's Australian Open start.
They are the first women players from the US to get this far in the Adelaide event.
Always friends, now finalists 🤗
— wta (@WTA) January 10, 2025
It’s an all-American showdown in #AdelaideTennis!
Presented by @CorpayFX pic.twitter.com/ooczSYDOb0
Pegula will be playing her first final since the US Open last September.
She overcame Putintseva a day after the Kazakh needed more than three hours to win her previous match.
Nevertheless Pegula said she had to stretch to win.
"I was on my toes, I knew she would try and break up the rhythm.
"I tried to play my game, I knew she would be tricky; I got a bit lucky in the tiebreaker."
eyes on an early season title 💃@JPegula books her spot in the #AdelaideTennis championship match with a 7-6(4), 6-3 win against Putintseva! pic.twitter.com/6fJetgpspv
— wta (@WTA) January 10, 2025
Keys, the 2022 champion, won 5-7, 7-5, 3-0 against Liudmila Samsonova to earn a second final at Memorial Drive.
Samsonova, who played with strapping below her right knee, retired after a discussion with the physiotherapist.
"I'm excited to be in another final here," Keys said. "I was really happy to stay in the match. She played unbelievable at the start.
"It's not how you want to win (through retirement) but I'm glad I was able to stick around and tough it out."
Madison Keys moves into the final as Samsonova retires.
— wta (@WTA) January 10, 2025
Final Score: 5-7, 7-5, 3-0 RET.#AdelaideTennis pic.twitter.com/J0kaYWG9tb