American Venus Williams defeated top seed Jelena Jankovic of Serbia 6-2 2-6 6-3 to reach the Sony Ericsson Championships final for the first time, having lost in the semis twice by now.

The seventh-seeded Williams was dominant in the first set, before a change of fortunes in the second. The Wimbledon champion rediscovered her first set touch at the start of the decider and moved into an early break. The 23-year-old Jankovic had a major chance in the sixth game of the third set, holding multiple break points. However, the world No.1 didn’t capitalize. Williams then confirmed her advantage and never looked back.

The 28-year-old Williams will face Russian Vera Zvonareva in the final of the Sony Ericsson Championships. Zvonareva, seeded eighth, is also playing her first final at the season-ending Championships, plus, her biggest career final. She advanced to the championships match with a victory over Elena Dementieva.

Neither Williams nor Zvonareva have lost a match this week. In the Maroon Group, Williams defeated three Top 5 players (Dinara Safina, Serena Williams, and Elena Dementieva), while Zvonareva beat two Top 5 players in the White Group.

Williams holds a 5-1 record against Zvonareva, having lost only the first meeting with the Russian. But don’t let the stats fool you. Zvonareva totally earned her place in the Sony Ericsson Championships final, and I wouldn’t be surprised if she lifts the trophy on Sunday. (photos: Getty Images)

Vera Zvonareva’s fantastic form continues to bring fruitful results, as the eighth seed defeated fellow Russian Elena Dementieva 7-6(7) 3-6 6-3 to reach the final of the Sony Ericsson Championships in Doha.

In the first set, which featured as much as eight breaks of serve, fifth-seeded Demetieva had a 4-1 lead, but Zvonareva recovered and forced a tiebreak which she won 9-7.

Dementieva then broke Zvonareva’s first service game in the second set, and holding that initial lead the fifth seed won the second set, in which Zvonareva, by the way, had only 38% first serve percentage.

In the third set, Zvonareva was the one who established a 4-1 lead, but later on, in the seventh game, Dementieva managed to break back. Zvonareva, however, rebroke right away, and served out the match in the following game to reach her first final of the Sony Ericsson Championships.

Prior to today’s meeting, Dementieva held a perfect record on hardcourts against her compatriot.

Zvonareva will next play either Venus Williams or world No.1 Jelena Jankovic, depending on whom of the two wins the semifinal. (photos: Getty Images)

Elena Dementieva and Serena Williams were supposed to fight for the last spot in the semifinals of the Sony Ericsson Championships, but the third-seeded American withdrew shortly before the match due to a stomach injury.

Instead of Serena, fifth-seeded Dementieva is currently playing second alternate Nadia Petrova. First alternate Agnieszka Radwanska will replace Ana Ivanovic, who withdrew because of a viral illness, in a dead rubber against Svetlana Kuznetsova.

Dementieva's place in the semifinals is certain, even if she loses to Petrova. She will play Vera Zvonareva for a spot in the final.

As Russian Vera Zvonareva continued her winning ways in her White Group, beating world No.1 Jelena Jankovic 2-6 6-3 6-4, the Serb will have to face the player who tops the Maroon Group, American Venus Williams. (photos: Getty Images)

Ana Ivanovic failed to qualify for the semifinals of the Sony Ericsson Championships in Doha, and was supposed to play a dead rubber against Svetlana Kuznetsova on Friday.

The two members of the White Group were scheduled to play their match as the last one of the day. However, Kuznetsova won’t face Ivanovic, but first alternate Agnieszka Radwanska.

Ivanovic withdrew from the tournament with viral illness, which had also bothered her in both of her round robin matches she lost. (photo: Getty Images)

Ana Ivanovic celebrated her twenty-first birthday during the Sony Ericsson Championships in Doha.

The world No.4 celebrated the occasion at the VIP Village of the Khalifa International Tennis Complex, accompanied by Sony Ericsson WTA Tour CEO Larry Scott, Tournament Director Karim Alami and the Sony Ericsson WTA Tour Staff. Read more »