AP Photo
Venus Williams of the U.S.A. returns a ball against Caroline Wozniacki of Denmark during their semi-final match in the Japan Open tennis tournament in Tokyo yesterday.

TOKYO (Reuters):

Venus Williams survived a scare before seeing off Danish teenager Caroline Wozniacki 6-3, 7-5, to reach the Japan Open final yesterday.

The Wimbledon champion faces fifth-seed Virginie Razzano in the Tokyo title match after the Frenchwoman's battling 4-6, 7-5, 6-3, win over Italian Flavia Pennetta.

Top seed David Ferrer advanced to the semi-finals of the men's event, meanwhile, coping well with windy conditions to beat fellow Spaniard Feliciano Lopez 6-4, 6-4. U.S. Open semi-finalist Ferrer will take on towering Croatian Ivo Karlovic after the seventh seed outmuscled former champion Lleyton Hewitt of Australia 7-6, 7-6.

Former world number one Williams, who won last week's Korea Open title, fought back from 4-2 down in the second set with some blistering shots too hot for her 17-year-old opponent to handle. Women's top seed Williams broke for a 6-5 lead with a backhand drive-volley and promptly closed out proceedings with a booming first serve after one hour and 38 minutes.

"Two finals in two weeks actually feels good," a smiling Williams told reporters.

"Seriously I thought 'Is it possible? Can I do this?' But it is possible. It's exciting."

SHEEPISH SMILE

Wozniacki smiled sheepishly when asked about leading Williams 4-2 in the second set.

"I thought I was close to winning the set," said the 2006 junior Wimbledon champion. "But then Venus started smashing shots into the corners and I couldn't really do anything."

Williams, whose victory was her 19th in 21 matches since winning her sixth grand slam singles title at Wimbledon, will be aiming to clinch her 37th career title in today's final.