Capriati books Williams clash

Hingis found her form in the second set

Jennifer Capriati will meet Serena Williams in the final of the $585,000 Scottsdale Classic in Arizona.

Capriati beat Nathalie Dechy of France 6-2 6-3 on Saturday after Williams beat Martina Hingis 6-1 3-6 6-4 in her semi-final.

Serena's sister Venus displaced Capriati as world number one last week but Capriati will regain that status if she wins the final on Sunday.

"It's definitely an incentive," said Capriati, who was at the top of the rankings for seven consecutive weeks before Venus took over.

"It's not Venus but I'm playing the closest thing. If I win, it'll be regaining the number one. Of course it's something to go for. Definitely I want to win, and play well."

Considering all the time I had off, I'd give myself an eight out of 10

Serena Williams

Capriati, however, knows it will not be an easy task taking out the younger Williams, even though she leads 4-2 in their career head-to-head series.

"I'm looking forward to it," said top seed Capriati. "Every time we play it's going to be a tough match. It's going to be a battle."

Serena said: "If Capriati wins she wants to be number one again. So, I have a little motivation but obviously she's going to have some too."

When told that Serena would try to defend the throne for Venus, Capriati snapped back: "She should defend herself, not her sister."

Third seed Williams was playing her first tournament since injuring her ankle at the start of January and after her semi-final she said: "Considering all the time I had off, I'd give myself an eight out of 10. Playing-wise, I'd give myself one more point than yesterday, a four."

I didn't mind her power - it wasn't really overwhelming

Martina Hingis

"I was really pleased with that first set, but first sets don't win you championships."

Williams was too strong for Hingis in the first set. but the Swiss second seed got her baseline game working to good effect in the second set.

But Williams came out in the third set and immediately took a match-winning break.

"I had my chances," Hingis said.

"I just missed my opportunities. I didn't really pressure her in the first set.

"I didn't mind her power. It wasn't really overwhelming. That definitely I was happy about."