Associated Press

Istanbul, May 21:

Venus Williams will play Nicole Vaidisova for her first title in a year in a No 1 vs No 2-seeded final of the Istanbul Cup. Williams dispatched Bulgarian qualifier Tszvetana Pironkova 6-1, 6-3, while Czech teenager Vaidisova rallied past third-seeded Anna Smashnova of Israel 4-6, 6-1, 6-0. In her first final since Antwerp in February, Williams will try to earn her 32nd career title. The last was in Warsaw in May 2004. She has never met 16-year-old Vaidisova, who won two titles last year. She was too poised for Pironkova, the 220th-ranked Bulgarian making debut on the main WTA Tour this week, and who started nervously before settling down in the second set. But Pironkova lost her serve in the last game, and advanced Williams.