Zakopalova v Nara in Rio final

Rio de Janeiro - Top-seeded Klara Zakopalova of the Czech Republic and fifth-seeded Kurumi Nara of Japan will face off in the final of the Rio Open.

Zakopalova defeated local hope Teliana Pereira 6-2, 6-1, and Nara won over Nastassja Burnett of Italy 6-4, 3-6, 6-2 in the semi-finals on Saturday.

Zakopalova will be aiming for her third WTA singles title. She won her two in 2004, and since then has been a losing finalist 11 times.

This will be Nara's first WTA singles final.

"I'm very surprised because it's on a clay court," said Nara, a university student who prefers hard courts.

Results on the sixth day of the ATP and WTA Rio Open on Saturday (x denotes seeding):

Semi-finals

Kurumi Nara (JPN x5) bt Nastassja Burnett (ITA) 6-4, 3-6, 6-2

Klara Zakopalova (CZE x1) bt Teliana Pereira (BRA) 6-2, 6-1