Elena Dementieva avenged a tough Wimbledon defeat with a straight-sets victory over second-seed Serena Williams to reach the final of the $US2 million WTA hardcourt tournament in Toronto.
The fourth-seed Dementieva defeated Williams 7-6 (7-2) 6-1 and awaits the winner of the second semi-final between Russians Maria Sharapova and Alisa Kleybanova.
While the former world number one Sharapova is battling to regain peak fitness after being sidelined for 10 months by a shoulder injury, Kleybanova has been impressive and dispatched fifth-seed Jelena Jankovic to reach the semi-finals.
