Latvia's Jelena Ostapenko hits a return against Russia's Ekaterina Alexandrova during their women’s singles semi-final match at the Adelaide International tennis tournament in Adelaide on Jan 12, 2024. (PHOTO / AFP)

CANBERRA - World number 12 Jelena Ostapenko has continued her strong run of form in the lead-up to the Australian Open by making it to the final of the warm-up event in Adelaide.

Ostapenko, the 2017 champion at Roland Garros, beat world number 21 Ekaterina Alexandrova 6-2, 7-6 (3) on Friday night to make the final of the Adelaide International.

The 26-year-old Latvian hit 36 winners compared to just 16 for Alexandrova.

"I was trying to play my game, sometimes I didn't really find it but I was trying to find my game, trying to be consistent and when I had the chance to go for it," Ostapenko said on court after the match.

It was Ostapenko's fourth win over a top-40 ranked opponent en route to the final in Adelaide following defeats of number 26 Sorana Cirstea, number 20 Caroline Garcia and number 35 Marta Kostyuk earlier in the tournament

"I feel in deciding moments when I have to go for the shots and when I have to put pressure on the opponent, I'm doing it better than the last couple of seasons."

It was Ostapenko's fourth win over a top-40 ranked opponent en route to the final in Adelaide following defeats of number 26 Sorana Cirstea, number 20 Caroline Garcia and number 35 Marta Kostyuk earlier in the tournament.

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Earlier in January, Ostapenko made it to the quarterfinals in the women's singles draw at the Brisbane International and won the women's doubles title at the tournament with Lyudmyla Kichenok.

Ostapenko will play world number 15 Daria Kasatkina for the Adelaide International title on Saturday night. The Russian advanced to the final after world number three Jessica Pegula withdrew from their semifinal match.

Earlier on Friday, Jiri Lehecka defeated third-seeded Sebastian Korda 6-2, 6-1 in the first men's semifinal.

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Lehecka, who has dropped only one set in Adelaide, will play the winner of Alexander Bublik and Jack Draper in Saturday's final.