Elena Dementieva overpowered Serena Williams 6-3, 6-1 at the Sydney International on Thursday to set up an all-Russian final against Dinara Safina.
Dementieva cruised to victory against the American, who ran out of steam after saving seven match points in her earlier rounds.
Dementieva, unbeaten in nine matches this season after winning the Auckland Classic last week, faces Safina in Friday's final after she beat Japan's Ai Sugiyama 6-4, 7-6.
The two Russians also played each other in last year's Beijing Olympic final, with Dementieva winning the gold medal.
Safina, ranked third in the world, one place higher than Dementieva, said she was expecting another classic encounter.
"When you are playing against the best players there is no tactic," Safina said. "You just go out there and play your game. She'll play her game and I will play my game and let's see who will be stronger that day."
Williams was well below her best on Thursday, looking drained the from her efforts to get to the semi-finals.
The world number two saved four match points in her first round win over Australia's Samantha Stosur on Sunday then another three in her quarter-final win over Denmark's Caroline Wozniacki in Wednesday night.
