Akgul on course for a double

Fourth seed Akgul Amanmuradova of Uzbekistan is in line for a double crown after winning the doubles title and storming into the singles final, in the University of Mumbai ITF women's US $25,000 tennis tournament at the Kalina University Campus, in Mumbai on Friday.

No stranger to Mumbai and the ITF circuit in India, Amanmuradova, 230 in the WTA rankings, made the most of familiar conditions to demolish No 2 seed and favourite Yan-Chong Chen of China 6-3, 6-1 in the semi-finals.

Later in the day, Amanmuradova partnered Nina Bratchikova of Russia to clinch the doubles crown. The pair scored a 6-2, 6-3 victory over Switzerland's Stefanie Voegele and Olga Panova of Russia in the final.

Unseeded Voegele though made amends by becoming a surprise finalist. She overcame unseeded Natsumi Hamamura of Japan 7-5, 7-5 in the other semi-final, which lasted two hours, five minutes.

Voegele earned three breaks in the opening set that included a crucial one in the 12th game for an early advantage.

The Swiss lass earned a break in the fourth game of the second set to take early charge before Hamamura hit back with a break in the ninth game. But Voegele broke the Japanese girl in the 12th and final game to seal her place in the championship round.

Results (singles semi-finals): Stefanie Voegele (Sui) bt Natsumi Hamamura (Jpn) 7-5, 7-5; 4-Akgul Amanmuradova (Uzb) bt 2-Yan-Chong Chen (Chn) 6-3, 6-1.

Doubles (final): Nina Bratchikova/Akgul Amanmuradova bt Stefanie Voegele/Olga Panova 6-2, 6-3.