AUCKLAND, New Zealand -- Reigning champion Yanina Wickmayer of Belgium dismissed China's Peng Shuai, while Hungarian veteran Greta Arn toppled fourth-seeded German Julia Goerges in Friday's semifinal action at the season-opening ASB Classic.
The second-seeded Wickmayer came from behind to beat Peng in three sets, 3-6, 7-6 (7-3), 7-5, to reach a second straight Auckland finale. The Belgian slugger upset Italian Flavia Pennetta in last year's title tilt here.
Wickmayer's opponent in Saturday's final, the 31-year-old Arn, drove out Goerges in 7-6 (7-3), 6-3 fashion on the hardcourts at ASB Tennis Centre. Arn stunned top-seeded Russian star Maria Sharapova here on Thursday.
The 21-year-old world No. 23 Wickmayer is 3-2 in her previous WTA finals, including the win here in Auckland a year ago, while the veteran 88th-ranked Arn, who turned pro in 1997, will appear in only her second career final. She titled in Portugal in 2007.
Wickmayer is 1-0 lifetime against Arn, with the victory coming in Cincinnati last season.
The winner of this Australian Open tuneup will claim $37,000.
