Elena Dementieva thumped Serena Williams 6-3, 6-1 at the Sydney International on Thursday, setting up a final against Dinara Safina.

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.

Williams was well below her best on Thursday. 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 quarterfinal win over Denmark's Caroline Wozniacki in Wednesday night.

(Xinhua News Agency January 16, 2009)