Acapulco, Mexico (AP): Flavia Pennetta reached her sixth consecutive final at the Mexican Open after dispatching 2004 champion Iveta Benesova 6-3, 6-3 on Friday.
"Six finals is incredible I didn't expect it or hope for it," Pennetta said. "Every year I come just hoping to play good tennis and produce a little magic for myself."
Standing between second-seeded Pennetta and a third Acapulco title in five years will be top-seeded Venus Williams, who put away unseeded Barbora Zahlavova Strycova of the Czech Republic 6-0, 6-3 in the other semifinal.
Pennetta leads Williams in their matchups 3-2, and won their only match on clay in last year's French Open third round.
Benesova had beaten Pennetta in the 2004 final but the Italian served better on Friday, and pounced on far more chances than Benesova could produce. Pennetta claimed four of eight break points and lost her serve only once to the fourth-seeded Czech.
Pennetta, who improved her Acapulco record to 28-4, won the title in 2005 and 2008.
"I think I am more famous here than in Italy, this is like my second home," she said.
This will be her 15th career final, of which nine have been in Latin America.
Williams saved all six break points she faced against Zahlavova Strycova to extend her winning streak to nine games, and 19 in her last 20 going back to last year. She came to Acapulco for the first time this week following her 40th career singles title in Dubai.
Nicolas Almagro of Spain will also get to defend his title in the men's final. He defeated unseeded Martin Vassallo Arguello of Argentina 6-4, 6-4. Fourth-seeded Almagro will play for his fifth career title against either second-seeded Gael Monfils of France or fifth-seeded Jose Acasuso of Argentina.
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