Sat. July 15, 2000

PALERMO, Italy -- Henrieta Nagyova and Pavlina Nola eliminated the two seeded players left in the $140,000 International Tournament and will meet in Sunday's final of the claycourt event.

Nagyova handed Silvia Farina a third career semifinal loss in her homeland tournament with a 6-2, 6-4 win over the fifth seed. Nola overwhelmed sixth seed Anna Smashnova of Israel, 6-1, 6-3, to reach her first career singles final.

Currently ranked No. 76 in the world, Nagyova has won at least one tournament each of the last four years, including two in 1998. The 21-year-old claimed her most recent title last year at Prostejov, Czech Republic, ironically against Farina.

Nola, who turned 26 on Friday, has won several tournaments on the juniors circuit and has represented her country in Fed Cup for three years. She is ranked No. 113 in the world.

Farina also was a semifinalist here in 1992 and 1996, but has never reached the final.

First prize is $16,000.