Monica Seles reached the final of the WTA Qatar Open after overcoming a spirited fight from Australia’s Alicia Molik to win 6-3 6-7 (5-7) 6-4.
She will now play Thailand’s Tamarine Tanusugarn after the Thai player beat Janette Husarova in the other semi-final.
Sunday’s match will be the second time Tanasugarn and Seles have met in a final – Seles winning in the 2001 Japan Open.
Seles had predicted a tough match with Molik and the Australian proved her right.
The 21-year-old Molik showed no nerves and left Seles shaking her head in admiration, particularly during the second set.
But Seles, winner of 51 titles on the circuit at the age of 28, used all her experience to clinch the final berth.
After losing a tight tie-break in the second set, the American went on the attack, breaking Molik in the third game and holding serve to book her place in Sunday’s final.