Vekic to face Hantuchova for Birmingham title

Jun 15, 2013 - 8:08 PM Birmingham, England (Sports Network) - Croat Donna Vekic and Slovakian veteran Daniela Hantuchova were semifinal winners on a rainy Saturday and will meet for the title at the Aegon Classic, a grass-court Wimbledon tune-up.

Alison Riske and former champion Sabine Lisicki started Saturday's action with the conclusion of their quarterfinal match, which was suspended because of darkness on Friday.

Riske beat Lisicki, the No. 5 seed, by a 7-6 (7-2), 2-6, 6-4 margin at Edgbaston Priory Club.

The American qualifier failed to make it two wins in one day, however, falling to Hantuchova in 5-7, 6-1, 6-4 fashion.

Vekic secured her spot in the final with a 7-6 (7-5), 1-6, 6-3 victory over 16th-seeded Magdalena Rybarikova, who was the Birmingham champion in 2009.

The 16-year-old Vekic also beat Rybarikova en route to her first WTA final last September in Tashkent, Uzbekistan.

Hantuchova, who was the 2011 Birmingham runner-up to Lisicki, owns a 5-9 mark in title matches.