World number one Justine Henin stretched her winning streak to 27 matches as she beat fourth-ranked Ana Ivanovic to set up a one-versus-two final with Svetlana Kuznetsova at the Sydney International on Thursday.
Henin claimed her 56th WTA Tour final appearance with a 6-2, 2-6, 6-4 win over the 20-year-old Serb. Kuznetsova overcame unseeded Czech Nicole Vaidisova in the other semi-final, 7-5, 7-6 (7/4). It is the first time since February 2006 in Antwerp that the two top ranked players have met in a WTA final.
"She's (Svetlana) a good friend. I like her a lot. She's been very consistent in the last few years and she has a very heavy game," Henin said of her closest ranking rival. "She's pretty aggressive, takes her opportunities, so I know it's going to be a tough match."
Kuznetsova trails Henin 15-2 in career match-ups, but is unperturbed by the disparity. "We've had a few very close matches and I've won twice. She's number one so that's good. I have opportunities to beat her," Kuznetsova said. "She's going to be the favourite and that's fine with me.
"I just have to work on my game to try to improve so maybe one day I can be where she is," she added. The Belgian is chasing her third win in the Sydney tournament, having won the title here against Amelie Mauresmo in 2004 and Francesca Schiavone in 2006.
Henin overcame Ivanovic despite a faltering 47 percent serve which conceded 11 double-faults and was broken three times. But just as Henin looked in danger when Ivanovic levelled at a set all, she broke the young Serb in the third game of the final set when she netted an attempted backhand pass.