Barrois faces Medina Garrigues in Estoril final

ESTORIL, Portugal: Kristina Barrois flew the flag for Germany as the 29-year-old reached the second final of her career, defeating Swede Johanna Larsson 7-6 (7/2), 6-4 at the ATP-WTA Estoril Open on Friday.

Barrois will aim to win her first title on Saturday against Spain's Anabel Medina Garrigues, who beat Monica Niculescu of Romania, 6-1, 6-3.

Barrois, a quarter-finalist last week in Stuttgart, said that her recent experiences in playing big matches and Top players is boosting her confidence.

"I played some good matches last week in Stuttgart, they gave me the belief that I can face Top 5 players. I've been close against them but have not yet won. But I'm still working on it."

The German ranked 71st broke her Swedish opponent six times in a contest lasting one hour, 49 minutes.

Barrois beat Medina Garrigues in their only previous meeting, on clay at Strasbourg in 2009 when the Spaniard retired after losing the first set.

"I didn't have any special tactics in this win," said Barrois, losing finalist a year ago in Strasbourg to Maria Sharapova.

"I just stayed concentrated on all the points and tried to play steady.

"She's a good clay player and I had to fight for every point."

Men's quarter-finals got underway at the Estadio Nacionale, with Pablo Cuevas of Uruguay booking the first of the semi-final spots as he defeated Brazilian sixth seed Thomaz Bellucci 6-4, 6-2.

Top seed Robin Soderling was facing Argentine Juan Martin del Potro in a later match.