DUBAI, United Arab Emirates (AP):

Venus Williams beat younger sister Serena 6-1, 2-6, 7-6 (3) yesterday to reach the final of the Dubai Tennis Championship.

The sixth-seeded Venus dominated the first set at the Aviation Club as Serena struggled with her serves.

'i loved the first set'

"I loved the way the first set went," said Venus, who will face Virginie Razzano of France in today's final. "I just had two second serves in the whole of the first set."

Venus now leads the career series between the American sisters 10-9.

"I think my serve has gone somewhere on vacation and I need to go there and catch up with it," said Serena, the Australian Open champion. "Venus played well and served really well, which was the difference."

Serena hit her first ace in the second game of the second set to save a break point, and then hit another to make it 1-1 before breaking her sister twice.

"She fought back well after that and I was still trying to finish the points quickly in the second set," Venus said. "But when I saw that she was playing better, I had to change my game a bit."

The sisters traded breaks in the third set.

"I was pleased with the win, but I would have been more pleased if it was the final," Venus said. "It definitely was a final-quality match. After all, she is the No. 1 player in the world and we are the best players in the world. She is one player I respect most on the tour, so it feels very satisfying."

Upset Safina

Razzano beat 16th-seeded Kaia Kanepi of Estonia 6-1, 6-2. The 58th-ranked Frenchwoman had already upset second-seeded Dinara Safina and fifth-seeded Vera Zvonareva in Dubai.

"I am not surprised at my results here," Razzano said. "I know I have the tennis in me to beat the top-ranked players. And I worked very hard on my game during the winter break and I am feeling good about it."