Two-time winner Serena Williams advanced to her first US Open final in six years, breezing past Russian Dinara Safina 6-3, 6-2 at the Arthur Ashe Stadium on Friday.

"I am finally back in the finals," Williams said. "An American back in the finals. I am really excited."

Williams set up a finals showdown with world number two Jelena Jankovic of Serbia, who beat Russian Elena Dementieva 6-4, 6-4 earlier in the day.

There will be plenty on the line in the final, which is scheduled for Saturday but could be moved to Sunday if an expected storm blows into the New York area.

Not only will they be gunning for the 1.5-million dollars in first place prize money but the winner will also surpass Serbiam Ana Ivanovic as world number one. Ivanovic was upset in the second round.

Williams kept her game plan simple Friday, converting five-of-10 break-point opportunities and making just 21 unforced errors on an afternoon where the wind howled through the main stadium court.

Williams, who won the US Open in 1999 and 2002, clinched the match by ripping a serve down the middle of the court that deflected off the tip of Safina's racquet. Williams hopped three times in the air before going to the net to shake hands with Safina.

Williams also used the moment to apologize to Safina for hitting her in the chest with a ball earlier in the match as the Russian was going for a net volley.

"I was nearly mortified I hit her," Williams said.

Safina couldn't get her game untracked as had her serve broken four consecutive times.

She made 41 unforced errors and converted just two-of-six break-point opportunities in the 88-minute match.

Safina said she didn't deserve to win and hopes to learn from the way Williams handled herself in tough, windy conditions.

"I was behaving like a spoiled girl on the court and I can't do this in a semi-final of a Grand Slam," Safina said. "I have to get better.

"She (Williams) behaved like a champion. She was there and fighting and was fighting with me and I was fighting with everything around except her."

Serena rallied from having her serve broken on her opening game of the match to take the first set by winning the final three games.

A win in the final major championship of the year would have put the perfect exclamation point on Safina's brilliant season.

Her big brother, Marat Safin, won his first Grand Slam title at the 2000 US Open and she was hoping to follow in his footsteps.

Safina has advanced to the final of six of her past eight tournaments, including winning the silver medal at the Beijing Olympics and reaching the final of the French Open.

"It has been a great year. I am playing my game and the results I am having are what I have been dreamming about. I just have to learn to handle my emotions better," Safina said.

AFP