Moscow, Russia (TSN) – Second-seeded Monica Seles and fifth- seeded Mary Pierce advanced to Sunday’s final of the $1 million Kremlin Cup. Pierce was able to come back from one set down and dispose of top-seeded Venus Williams, 2-6, 6-2, 6-0. Williams was slowed by a knee injury.
Seles outslugged seventh-seeded Sandrine Testud, 6-3, 7-6 (9-7), in Saturday’s other semifinal.
Williams’ knee injury began to take its toll during the second set, a stanza in which Pierce won the last five games. Pierce closed out the second set with three aces and jumped out to a 2-0 lead in the third set after Williams double-faulted twice. A trainer was summoned right after the game, but Williams reamined vulnerable. Pierce dominated the rest of the third set and did not allow Williams a point in the final three games of the encounter.
Seles is gunning for her third title of the year, this being her fourth finals appearance. Pierce is also in search of her third crown of the year in her fourth trip to a tournament final.