Her opponent in Sunday's showdown will be second-seeded Russian Maria Sharapova, who reached her sixth final of the year when she defeated unseeded Katarina Srebotnik of Slovenia 7-6, 6-2.

Kuznetsova was a pale reflection of the woman who played brilliantly to dispose of Martina Hingis in Friday's quarter-finals, finding difficulty with her serve and failing to maintain the rallies against a confident and consistent opponent.

Hantuchova broke to lead 2-1 when Kuznetsova dumped a smash into the net and although Kuznetsova levelled at 4-4 she then hit two successive double-faults to concede her serve again and leave Hantuchova serving for the set.

Hantuchova again broke for 2-1 in the second set when Kuznetsova netted a forehand, and the Russian called for medical attention to her right foot after Hantuchova held serve for 4-2.

When play resumed after several minutes, Hantuchova broke for 5-2 and went on to close out the match on her third match point.

The Slovak revealed that she might not have been able to play this week after she was struck by a ball in a doubles match.

"I was hit really hard in the doubles and it was really hurting me, and I wasn't sure if I was going to be able to play," Hantuchova told reporters.

Slovakia's Daniela Hantuchova upset third-seeded Svetlana Kuznetsova of Russia 6-4, 6-2 on Saturday to reach the final of the Zurich Open.

Her opponent in Sunday's showdown will be second-seeded Russian Maria Sharapova, who reached her sixth final of the year when she defeated unseeded Katarina Srebotnik of Slovenia 7-6, 6-2.

Kuznetsova was a pale reflection of the woman who played brilliantly to dispose of Martina Hingis in Friday's quarter-finals, finding difficulty with her serve and failing to maintain the rallies against a confident and consistent opponent.

Hantuchova broke to lead 2-1 when Kuznetsova dumped a smash into the net and although Kuznetsova levelled at 4-4 she then hit two successive double-faults to concede her serve again and leave Hantuchova serving for the set.

Hantuchova again broke for 2-1 in the second set when Kuznetsova netted a forehand, and the Russian called for medical attention to her right foot after Hantuchova held serve for 4-2.

When play resumed after several minutes, Hantuchova broke for 5-2 and went on to close out the match on her third match point.

The Slovak revealed that she might not have been able to play this week after she was struck by a ball in a doubles match.

"I was hit really hard in the doubles and it was really hurting me, and I wasn't sure if I was going to be able to play," Hantuchova told reporters.