TAIPEI: Venus Williams fought a challenging match to defeat Russia’s Yulia Putintseva 7-5, 6-3 on Saturday, securing her spot in the Taiwan Open final.

The seven-time Grand Slam winner bagged a suspenseful win in the opening set with Putintseva closing in on Williams’ early lead after a pep talk from her coach.

The second set also started out evenly matched with the score tied at 2-2, but errors by Putintseva handed victory to the top seed.

“What a tough opponent today. She has so much energy,” said Williams, the world No. 12, according to the WTA website.

“It was very difficult to win, but I’m very glad to be in the final tomorrow,” she said.

Williams will face Misaki Doi of Japan in the final, the first time they will play each other.

“I’ve never played her before. I have no idea what to expect,” Williams said of Doi, who has yet to lose a set in the tournament.

Doi sailed to the final after defeating local hope Hsieh Su-wei 6-0, 6-2.

Bencic to meet Vinci in St. Petersburg final

Top seed Belinda Bencic will face second seed Roberta Vinci in the WTA St. Petersburg final after beating Darya Kasatkina 6-4, 6-3 in Saturday’s semifinal.

Vinci, the US Open runner-up last season, overcame former French Open winner Ana Ivanovic, seeded fourth, 7-5, 6-4.

Swiss teenager Bencic, ranked 11th in the world, won her first ever WTA meeting with Russian Kasatkina to ensure she will finish the week inside the Top 10.

“It’s a huge achievement for me to be in Top 10,” said Bencic, 18.

“It was always like a dream for me from my early childhood. This is a very big day for me.

“Vinci is a very experienced player and it will be very tough to oppose her tomorrow as she’s currently on the peak of her career, but now I’m in the top 10 and in the final so I will just enjoy it.

“Of course I want to win but I will be relaxed in the final.”

The teenagers both played nervously from the start but Bencic produced fewer unforced errors and twice broke Kasatkina’s serve.

The local favorite appeared still jaded from Friday’s three-setter against Dominika Cibulkova, as well as her doubles duties.

Bencic broke Kasatkina’s serve again halfway through the second set before serving out for the victory.

Serbian former world number one and 2008 Roland Garros champion Ivanovic started her semifinal aggressively, clinching a 3-0 lead with an early break.

But Italian Vinci broke back twice to win the opening stanza.

Vinci, ranked 16th in the world, broke in the seventh game of the second set and that proved enough for a place in her 15th WTA final.

“I’m really happy to win today,” Vinci said.

“It was an incredible match, so tight at the beginning. It’s always tough to play Ana because she plays so quickly. But after I was 3-0 down in the first set I forced myself to play more aggressively and it paid off.”

Tops seeds Williams, Kerber pull out of Dubai Open

Top seeds Serena Williams and Angelique Kerber have withdrawn from the WTA Tennis Championships, organizers announced on Saturday.

“We regret to announce that Serena Williams and Angelique Kerber have withdrawn due to illness and injury,” the Dubai Duty Free Tennis Championships wrote on their official Twitter account ahead of the draw.

The news is a double blow for organizers with Williams and Kerber, the world’s top two players, seeded number one and two respectively.

The 28-year-old German shocked Williams, 34, in the Australian Open final last month to win her first Grand Slam title.

Williams, whose pullout was her third in four years on short notice in Dubai, said: “I’m disappointed to have to withdraw from the Dubai Tennis Championships.

“I have come down with the flu and I am not at 100 percent, so I need to take this time to recuperate.”

Williams last appeared at the tournament in a semifinal two years ago, losing to Alize Cornet.

Kerber said: “I am very sad to announce that I have to withdraw from this great tournament in Dubai due to an injury of my right upper thigh.

“I wish all of you a lot of fun and great week of tennis. Looking forward to being on court again as soon as possible.”

In addition to Williams and Kerber, other absentees include 2012 champion Agnieszka Radwanska, Switzerland’s Roland Garros semifinalist Timea Bacsinszky, Dane Caroline Wozniacki, the winner in 2011, plus China’s Peng Shuai and injured Frenchwoman Cornet.

Defending champion Simona Halep of Romania is now the top seed in the tournament which starts on Monday with world number five Garbine Muguruza of Spain moving up to second seed.