Serena Williams edged fellow American Jennifer Capriati 6-2, 3-6, 7-5 in the semi-final of the 1.24-million-dollar Tennis Masters Series tournament today, booking a meeting in Sunday's final with Belgium's Justine Henin.
Serena thus gets an early chance of revenge against Henin who defeated her in a third-set tie-break in the final of last week's Berlin Open.
In an absorbing contest fourth-seed Williams raced to the first set only for second-ranked Capriati to hit back to take the second.
The New Yorker, who will return to the world number one spot at the expense of Serena's sister Venus when the new WTA rankings are unveiled Monday, took what looked to be a decisive 3-0 lead in the decider.
But Williams saved three break points to prevent Capriati moving 4-0 up and then won the next four games to lead 4-3.
Capriati, the reigning French and Australian Open champion, broke back and held her own serve to lead 5-4 only for Serena to square it up again.
But 26-year-old Capriati then lost her serve again on a double fault and Serena served out to clinch a hard-won victory on the red clay at the Foro Italico.
Both Henin and Williams carry injuries into Sunday's matches with both finishing their matches with heavily-strapped right thighs.
Henin had earlier produced a compelling performance against her childhood friend and fellow Belgian Kim Clijsters, winning 7-5, 6-2.
AFP