Marion Bartoli overpowered Japan's Ai Sugiyama 6-3, 6-3 to move into the final of the Bank of the West Classic in Stanford, California, on Saturday.
The sixth-seeded Frenchwoman will meet Canada's 85th-ranked Aleksandra Wozniak, who advanced when top seed Serena Williams was forced to retire with a knee injury down 2-6, 1-3.
In reaching her first final since Wimbledon 2007, Bartoli used a strong inside-the-baseline attack to repel the 33-year-old Sugiyama.
"I played really well, but she gave me a hard time," said the 15th ranked Bartoli, who was 0-5 against Sugiyama before.
Bartoli served well in tight spots, tore at her opponent's second serves and mixed it up just enough off the ground to confuse her foe.
"I kept my composure and came back with some great serves when I needed to. I've improved my serve on the big occasions," added Bartoli.
Wimbledon finalist Williams took a medical timeout to receive treatment when she was down 2-5 in the first set, but it made no difference. She was unable to put her weight on her left leg and finally gave up.
A disappointed Williams said: "I expected to win this tournament and have a strong start (to the hardcourt season).
"My goal was to win here and I think I would have done it otherwise."
Wozniak will play in her first Tier II final and is the first qualifier to reach the final at Stanford since the WTA computer rankings began in 1982.
Williams was unsure whether she would be able to compete in this week's Los Angeles Classic, but said being fit for the Beijing Olympic Games was her top priority.
In Bad Gastein, Austria, fourth-seeded Pauline Parmentier of France won the Gastein Ladies by beating Lucie Hradecka of the Czech Republic 6-4, 6-4 in yesterday's final.
It was Parmentier's second WTA Tour title after winning in Tashkent, Uzbekistan, last year.
"It was a wonderful week for me," the 53rd-ranked Parmentier said. "I am glad that I played well consistently. The rain made it hard as we had to play many matches in just a few days."
In Indianapolis, defending champion Dmitry Tursunov fought back from a set down to upset top seed James Blake 4-6, 6-3, 6-4 and reach the final of the Indianapolis Championships on Saturday.
The Russian will now face Gilles Simon after the Frenchman reached his first career ATP final in the United States with an exciting 6-3, 4-6, 6-4 win over local favorite Sam Querrey.
Blake came into the match riding the momentum from a dominant performance in the quarterfinals where he dispatched Lu Yen-hsun 6-2, 6-0. And he looked strong through the first set, where he held his serve comfortably.
However, Tursunov produced a strong service set of his own, recording four aces on the way to taking the second.
The Russian has the chance to join Americans Pete Sampras and Andy Roddick as the only players in the last three decades to defend the tournament title.
(Agencies via Shanghai Daily July 21, 2008)