Hercog reaches first WTA final, beating Suarez Navarro 6-3, 7-5

Hercog reaches first WTA final

ACAPULCO, Mexico — Eighth-seeded Polona Hercog of Slovenia reached her first WTA final, beating Carla Suarez Navarro of Spain 6-3, 7-5 on Friday.

The 19-year-old Hercog advanced to the quarterfinals last year in a WTA tournament in Fez, Morocco, her best previous performance.

In the other women’s semifinal, top-seeded Venus Williams faced Edina Gallovits of Romania. Williams has won 42 WTA titles, the most of any active player. The Romanian is seeking her first WTA title.

In the men’s semifinals, seventh-seeded Juan Monaco of Argentina played fourth-seeded Juan Carlos Ferrero of Spain, and No. 2 Fernando Gonzalez of Chile was up against third-seeded David Ferrer of Spain. Monaco beat top-seeded Fernando Verdasco in the quarterfinals.