Maria Sharapova reached the final of the DFS Classic with a three-set win over second seed Patty Schnyder. Sharapova, who reached the semi-finals last year, won 6-1 6-7 (3/7) 6-3.
The 17-year-old served for the match in the second set, but dropped her serve and then lost the tie-break as Schnyder forced a deciding third set.
In Sunday's final she will play 16-year-old Tatiana Golovin, who beat French compatriot Emilie Loit in Saturday's other semi.
 |  I'm really pleased to be in the final |
"I fought hard, so I guess it paid off," said Sharapova. "I'm really pleased to be in the final."
Sharapova said she remained focused despite losing her serve late in the second set.
"I don't think I did anything wrong," she added.
"(Schnyder) just raised her game and hit some unbelievable shots. I really should have been ready for it, but I wasn't."
In the other semi-final, Golovin took two hours, 18 minutes to overcome ninth-seeded Loit 6-3 5-7 7-5.
Golovin, who ousted 15th-seeded Elena Likhovtseva and Daniela Hantuchova in earlier rounds, rallied from a 3-0 deficit in the final set.
MMIX
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