Serena fights back against Capriati to reach final

World number one Serena Williams rallied to beat fellow American Jennifer Capriati 2-6, 6-4, 6-4 on Sunday to reach the final of the $3 million WTA Championships.

Serena, the defending champion, stepped on to the Staples Center court knowing the prospects of an all-Williams showdown had disappeared after Venus retired from her match with Belgian Kim Clijsters earlier in the day because of a leg injury.

The younger Williams sister also appeared to be heading towards the exit door when third seed Capriati, searching for her first title since the Australian Open, surged into a 3-0 lead on the way to claiming the first set.

Playing in her first event since lifting her season-leading eighth title five weeks ago, Serena struggled to find her range, committing a massive 53 unforced errors.

But she found her shots when she needed them most, breaking Capriati to take the second set and level the match.

The largest crowd of the week at the Staples Center was then treated to a riveting third set, the two players stepping up their games as the pressure mounted.

Once again Capriati took the initiative, breaking Williams to go in front 2-1, pumping her fist as she sprinted to her chair for the changeover.

But Williams broke back to level the contest at 3-3 and again to close out the match and go through to Monday's final where a victory will make her the first woman to win $4 million in a single season.

The match marked the 11th meeting between the two rivals, Serena winning seven, including all five this season.