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Miami - Spain's unfancied Carla Suarez Navarro will play for the biggest title of her career after moving into the final of the Miami Open on Thursday with a 6-3, 6-3 win against German Andrea Petkovic.
The world number 12 is the first Spanish woman to reach the trophy match at Crandon park since compatriot Arantxa Sanchez Vicario, who defeated Steffi Graf for the 1993 title.
Sanchez Navarro will be the underdog in the Saturday final when she faces the winner of the match between Serena Williams and Simona Halep.
"I played a good match. An important match like this is difficult," said the winner.
"I just tried to play my game and enjoy it.
"Playing this final is an important event for me. I train in the off-season in hopes of playing a final like this."
World number one Williams is aiming for a record eighth trophy at her home event. Romania's Halep, the world number three, comes to Miami after winning the Indian Wells event less than a fortnight ago.
Suarez Navarro owns a single career title, which she won at a small WTA event in Lisbon in 2014 on her favoured clay.
The Spaniard spent just under 90 minutes in beating Petkovic in an error-filled match; the winner struck 32 unforced errors while Petkovic had 27.
Petkovic and Suarez Navarro were to have played in February in Antwerp, but Suarez Navarro was unable to take to the court due to a neck injury, handing the trophy to Petkovic in a walkover.
