Kristina Mladenovic of France returns ashot to Elena Vesnina of Russia during the semifinals of the BNP Paribas Open at the Indian Wells Tennis Garden on March 17, 2017 in Indian Wells, California. Matthew Stockman/AFP
Indian Wells, United States: Russian Elena Vesnina powered into the Indian Wells WTA final with a 6-3, 6-4 victory over in-form Kristina Mladenovic on Friday.
Vesnina, ranked at a career-high 15th in the world, thwarted a Mladenovic comeback bid in the second set to win in one hour and 24 minutes.
She'll face either third-ranked Czech Kristina Pliskova or Russian veteran Svetlana Kuznetsova in Sunday's championship match.
