Rome - World No. 1 Dinara Safina was made to work for more than three hours by American Venus Williams before finally winning, setting up a repeat WTA all-Russian final Friday at the Rome International. The top seed struggled past fourth-seeded Williams, the 1999 winner at the Foro Italico, 6-7 (3-7), 6-3, 6-4 to next face off with countrywoman Svetlana Kuznetsova.
The seventh seed booked her place over Miami winner and sixth seed Victoria Azarenka, 6-2, 6-4.
Safina will be competing in her second final in a week as she and Kuznetsova repeat last Sunday's Stuttgart title match won by Kuznetsova.
The battling Safina has now come from behind in her last three matches and assured herself of the top WTA ranking for another week.
"I'll do my best to stay as long as I can on No. 1," she said. "That's why I fight like crazy to win the matches."
Williams, who won Dubai in February, will move back to third in the world as a result of playing the semis, her first time at that level since summer, 2003.
Safina faced 17 break points, saving all but four while Williams was broken six times. The pair struck 15 double-faults between them.
Earlier, Kuznetsova needed 90 minutes to contain the big game of Azarenka, who made her breakthrough with a thrashing of Serena Williams in Florida a month ago.
"It was good, I'm happy to win today, it was a tough match," said Kuznetsova. "She made me play uncomfortable, but I stayed strong, and I'm happy to finish in two sets.
The 2004 US Open winner broke her Balarus opponent six times to eventually take charge of the victory, lifting her record this season to 21-5.
Kuznetsova nudged ahead of Williams to stake a claim on the best 2009 clay record on the WTA, now standing 10-1.
The winner now stands a commanding 4-1 over Azarenka after losing to the teenager in the Miami semi-finals.
Kuznetsova beat Safina last weekend in Stuttgart - claiming one of several Porsche cars she now owns - to earn the tenth singles trophy of her career.
She says she's not looking too far ahead, knowing that another month of more of matches on clay remain until the end of the French Open.
"I'm not thinking about this right now, the French Open is still to go for me. I'm playing lots of matches, so I'm focusing to do my best.
"I cannot change the schedule, I cannot lose on purpose not to get my good level before French. I'm just playing as I can and I'm doing good and I'm happy about it.
