Williams sisters set up fourth meeting in Grand Slam final

Venus Williams is one match away from winning the United States Open women's singles title for the third consecutive year and at the same time regaining the world No 1 position from her younger sister, Serena.

Tonight the American siblings are due to compete against each other for the fourth time in a Grand Slam singles final. Venus overcame Amelie Mauresmo, of France, in the semi-finals last night, 6-3, 5-7, 6-4. Serena then went on court and defeated her compatriot Lindsay Davenport, 6-3, 7-5.

Serena was broken only once by Davenport, for 2-4 in the second set. She broke back for 4-5 and made the decisive break for 6-5, hitting her 13th ace when serving out the match.

Mauresmo's attempt to become the first Frenchwoman to reach the final ended after a stirring contest which lasted almost two hours. There was much to admire about Mauresmo here. Her aggressive start flustered Venus into making errors, and the defending champion had to save one break point in the opening game and two at 3-3. Williams managed to serve her way out of trouble, and applied pressure to make the decisive break of the set at 4-3.

Mauresmo seemed destined for a swift execution after losing her serve at 2-2 in the second set, but she shook Williams with successive breaks for 5-3. Williams, who twice double-faulted in the sixth game, began to be troubled by a blister on her right hand. But she returned well enough to break back for 4-5, Mauresmo mis-hitting a backhand at 15-40 when served for the set. Williams then capitalised on her opponent's netted backhand volley to level at 5-5.

A trainer treated Williams's blister, but the American was unable to control her forehand shots in the concluding games of the set as Mauremo attacked and broke at 6-5. Mauresmo's backhand was not producing the customary flow of winners, a factor that helped Williams regroup and win the first two games of the final set. Williams, in turn, virtually gifted her opponent the fourth game, hitting her ninth double-fault.

The errors switched back to Mauresmo, who hit two double-faults in losing serve for 2-3. Williams held for 4-2, but had to recover from 0-40 when serving for the match at 5-4. Two powerful serves gave her match point, Mauresmo then hitting a forehand wide.

* Serena Williams' stalker, Albrecht Strohmeyer, from Frankfurt, has been ordered to be deported. He was arrested at the US Open a week ago.