CARLSBAD: Two-time Grand Slam champion Svetlana Kuznetsova beat fifth-seeded Flavia Pennetta 6-4, 6-0 Saturday to reach the final of the 700,000-dollar San Diego Open final, her first WTA final since October.

Unseeded after falling to number 21 in the world, Kuznetsova displayed her powerful forehand and capitalized on Pennetta`s unprepossessing service game to win nine of the last 10 games.

"I`m a little more comfortable to play her because she doesn`t overpower me," Kuznetsova said.

In the final Kuznetsova will face either fourth-seeded Agnieszka Radwanska of Poland or unseeded Slovakian Daniela Hantuchova, who were playing Saturday night.

Kuznetsova hadn`t reached a final since a victory in Beijing last October.

"It`s good that I make it to a final, but it`s not enough," Kuznetsova said. "Even winning a trophy is not enough but it`s one step forward."

Kuznetsova won three times in 2009 to take her career total of titles to 12, but it has been a battle for her in 2010.

Prior to San Diego, Kuznetsova had reached only one quarter-final this year and she fell out of the top 20 for the first time since February 2004.

"I lost my game," she said. "It took some time to sort things out. I want to be back and be strong. I don`t want to be back and be number 12 or 15, that`s not my goal. I want to be higher and I believe I can do it."

Kuznetsova`s victory over Pennetta is projected to move her back into the top 20.

The tight first set stayed on serve until the two traded breaks in the eighth and ninth games, Kuznetsova taking a 5-4 lead.

Kuznetsova then broke Pennetta in the final game as the Italian hit a backhand long.

Pennetta`s serve deteriorated further in the send set and Kuznetsova took full advantage.

"It`s not my favorite shot, of course," said Pennetta, who had beaten French Open runner-up Samantha Stosur in the quarter-finals.

"But when I am a little bit nervous and know I have to play really well with the serve, I start to get nervous and can`t get one in."

BDST:1515HRS, August 8, 2010