Stanford, CA (Sports Network) - Venus Williams and Marion Bartoli were semifinal winners on Saturday, advancing to the final of the $700,000 Bank of the West Classic.
The second-seeded Williams notched a tidy 6-0, 6-1 victory over third-seeded Russian Elena Dementieva, who eased into the final four by besting Slovakian Daniela Hantuchova on the hardcourts at Taube Family Tennis Stadium on Friday.
The American Williams titled here in 2000 and 2002 and was runner-up in 1998, 1999, 2004 and 2005. She beat Russian Maria Sharapova in the quarterfinals here on Friday and will face the eighth-seeded Bartoli for only the second time in her career.
Venus defeated the Frenchwoman in the 2007 Wimbledon final in straight sets 6-4, 6-1.
Bartoli dispatched of Australian Samantha Stosur in a 6-3, 1-6, 6-1 victory to reach her fifth career title match and second this year having titled at Monterrey. She ousted fourth-seeded Serbian Jelena Jankovic in the quarterfinals here on Friday.
Stosur, who has yet to win a career title on the WTA Tour, shocked top seed Serena Williams to reach the semis with a 6-2, 3-6, 6-2 win.
This week's Stanford champion will pocket $107,000.