The 2009 Internazionali BNL d’Italia women’s singles final will be an all-Russian affair on Saturday in Rome.
Top seed and reigning world number one Dinara Safina will play her countrywoman and seventh seed Svetlana Kuznetsova for the title.
Safina, who has lost the opening set in her last three matches in Italy, outlasted Venus Williams in a grueling three set thriller 6-7(3), 6-4, 6-3 on Friday. Although Williams lost in the semifinals, she is assured of re-taking the No. 3 Sony Ericsson WTA Tour ranking on May 11 for the first time since June 8, 2003.
Safina played Kuznetsova only last week in the final at the Porsche Tennis Grand Prix, where she lost to Svetlana 6-4, 6-3.
Kuznetsova advanced to the championship match in straight sets by crushing an emotional Victoria Azarenka 6-2, 6-4 in the first semifinal of the day.
Kuznetsova will win at the French Open.She is a great player.