SYDNEY – Top-ranked Serena Williams rallied from a set and 5-2 down to beat Avarane Rezai, 3-6, 7-5, 6-4, on Thursday and move into a Sydney International final against defending champion Elena Dementieva.
Rezai was serving for the match at 5-3 in the second set but reigning Australian Open champion Williams won the next five games to level it and go a break up in the third.
Rezai of France recovered breaks in the first and seventh games of the third set but Williams broke her to lead 5-4 and then served it out.
Williams, winner of 11 Grand Slam singles titles, will play Friday against Olympic champion Dementieva, who beat sixth-seeded Victoria Azarenka of Belarus, 6-3, 6-1.
“I expect a tough match. She’s a great champion,” Dementieva said of Williams. “I just hope it’s going to be a good match for both of us, and good preparation for the Open.”
In men’s quarterfinals, Richard Gasquet of France had a 6-3, 7-6 (7) win over Italian Potito Starace.
Former No. 1 Lleyton Hewitt was playing 2006 Australian Open finalist Marcos Baghdatis later Thursday. (AP)