Del Potro advances to Sydney International final

Juan Martin del Potro of Argentina plays a shot to Dmitry Tursunov of Russia during their men’s singles semifinal match at the Sydney International tennis tournament in Sydney, Friday, Jan. 10, 2014. Del Potro won the match 6-4, 6-2. (AP Photo/Rick Rycroft)

SYDNEY — Top-seeded Juan Martin del Potro advanced to the Sydney International final with a 6-4, 6-2 win Friday over Dmitry Tursunov.

The 2009 U.S. Open champion will play either defending champion Bernard Tomic or Sergiy Stakhovsky of Ukraine in the final.

Fifth-seeded Angelique Kerber of Germany was to play Tsvetana Pironkova of Bulgaria in the women’s final on Friday night.

In a preview of their first-round match at the Australian Open, Klara Zakopalova of the

Czech Republic beat 2011 U.S. Open champion Sam Stosur 6-3, 6-2 in the semifinals of the WTA event at Hobart.

At the Kooyong Classic exhibition tournament in Melbourne, Fernando Verdasco of Spain beat Australian Nick Kyrgios 6-7 (2), 6-3, 7-6 (4) and Australian Jordan Thompson defeated Juan Monaco of Argentina 6-4, 6-2.