Serena Williams faces defending champion Elena Dementieva in the Medibank International final.

Williams needed all her fighting qualities to reach the final as she appeared to be crashing to a shock semi-final defeat against the unheralded Aravane Rezai. A diffident Williams was trailing 6-3, 5-2 and seemingly on her way back before a thrilling comeback which saw her eventually break Rezai’s resistance to claim a 3-6, 7-5, 6-4 win.

Dementieva found things much easier against Victoria Azarenka, the world number seven folding fairly weakly 6-3, 6-1.

Dementieva beat Williams by the same scoreline in this tournament last year on the way to claiming the title but Williams has the knack of winning when it really counts, in the slams. Two weeks later she beat Dementieva 6-3, 6-4 in the Australian Open semi-finals and claimed similar wins at Wimbledon and the end of year WTA Tour Championships.

Williams is 8/13 favourite with bet365 but don’t be surprised if Dementieva who is 11/8 with Stan James, wins a second Sydney title.