21 February,2009 08:12 AM IST | | Agencies
Venus Williams will play surprise package Virginie Razzano in the final of the Barclays Dubai Tennis Championships after defeating sister Serena in a close battle yesterday.
The semi-final was the 19th professional meeting between the sisters with Venus' 6-1, 2-6, 7-6 (7-3) victory giving her a 10-9 advantage.
World No 1 Serena has been the form player this season, winning the Australian Open title, while Venus surprisingly lost in the second round in Melbourne to Carla Suarez Navarro.
But it was the elder sister, seeded sixth this week, who began in top form, racing out to a one-set lead.
Matches between the pair are rarely one-sided, though, and Serena came storming back to level. The decider was a tight affair with Serena breaking first to forge ahead but this time it was Venus' turn to fight back as the third set went to a tie-break.
Venus raced out to a 4-1 lead and did not falter thereafter.
Meanwhile, Razzano continued her incredible week by reaching the biggest final of her career. The Frenchwoman, ranked 58th in the world, had already beaten World No 2u00a0 Dinara Safina and number five Vera Zvonareva, and had little trouble brushing aside 16th seed Kaia Kanepi 6-1, 6-2 yesterday.
