Third seed Amanda Coetzer is through to the final of the Kroger St. Jude Cellular South Cup, where she will meet defending champion Lisa Raymond.

Coetzer came through 6-4, 6-1 against No. 6 seed Lara Granville, while Raymond needed three sets before overcoming Korea's Joon Jeong Cho 6-3, 2-6, 6-2.

Coetzer, the former World No. 3 who slipped outside the Top 20 last year for the first time since 1991, is attempting to win her first title since Acapulco in 2001.

"It's been a while since I've been in the final, so it feels nice," said Coetzer. "Last year I lost first round here, so it's especially nice to be in the final this time around."

The South African, currently ranked No. 23 in the world, reached the quarterfinals in Sydney at the beginning of the year and the fourth round at the Australian Open, and she was happy to have found her form again in Memphis.

"I struggled in my first two matches here, both going three sets [against Roesch and Taylor]," said Coetzer, who has won eight career titles. "But my confidence has been getting higher and I'm playing better and better as the tournament goes on. Once you get to a certain point in a tournament, you hit out a little bit more and run on adrenaline, so I hope I can take that into tomorrow's match."

Difficult

Coetzer has won 9 of the 12 meetings against Raymond, and the South African is looking forward to another clash in the final. "Lisa and I have played many times and we know each other's games very well," said Coetzer. "They've always been close matches."

Granville, who is ranked No. 41 and was playing in her first WTA Tour semifinal, was disappointed with the result but pleased with how far she has come during the tournament.

"I didn't really start that well," said Granville, who defeated top seed Silvia Farina Elia in the quarterfinals. "I had my chance in the first set and I didn't take it and she played really well. I think I was a little more tired after yesterday's match than I expected to be. She was making me work for every point.

"But overall it was great to be in the semifinals and I'm really happy I got this far in the tournament. Everything is stepping in the right direction."

Raymond Progresses

In the second semifinal, Raymond looked to be in control against Cho after taking the first set 6-3, before the Korean hit back in the second. But Raymond's experience began to show as she led 5-1 in the decider before wrapping things up 6-3.

"I've never played Yoon before and she definitely hit a much different ball than Carly [Gullickson] in the quarterfinals," said Raymond.

"She didn't have a lot of pace on the ball, so I had to move my feet and I was really happy with the way I regrouped in the third set.

"I couldn't be happier to be in the final again. I'm certainly prepared, I love playing here and on that court and it's going to be a great atmosphere out there. It should be a great final."