SEOUL: Top seed Jelena Ostapenko powered her way into the Korea Open final on Saturday after a tight three-set battle with Thailand's Luksika Kumkhum, moving closer to claim the $250,000 title.
The 20-year-old French Open champion from Latvia beat Luksika KumKhum, who had earlier upset the number four seed Sorana Cirstea, 3-6, 6-1, 6-3 in 110 minutes.
The 24-year-old Thai stunned the world number 10 by winning the opening set 6-3 before Ostapenko won the following two sets to reach her third final of the 2017 season.
Ostapenko is a favourite to win the title after her surprise upset win over third-seed Simona Halep at the French Open in June.
Ostapenko will face Brazil's Beatriz Haddad Maia, who sailed into the final after defeating Richel Hogenkamp of the Netherlands 6-1, 7-6 (9/7) in the semi-final on Saturday.
"However, my heart and love won out: I couldn’t betray the city and the fans."