Venus Williams survives scare, reaches Taiwan Open final

Seven-time grand slam champion Venus Williams beat Yulia Putintseva of Kazakhstan 7-5, 6-3 on Saturday to secure her spot in the Taiwan Open final. Williams now plays Japan’s Misaki Doi in Sunday’s tournament. Doi, ranked 61st in the world, beat local favorite Hsieh Su-wei 6-0, 6-2.

Venus Williams has reached the final of Taiwan Open. REUTERS/Thomas Peter

Venus Williams survived a scare against against Yulia Putintseva on Saturday to take the lead and reach the final of the Taiwan Open.

Williams, who has yet to drop a set at the Women's Tennis tournament, raced into a 4-1 lead in the first set only for her third-seeded opponent to claim four of the next five games to level at 5-5.

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, according to the WTA website.

"It was very difficult to win, but I'm very glad to be in the final tomorrow," added the world number 12, who suffered a surprise defeat last month at the Australian Open.

Williams now goes on to face Misaki Doi of Japan in Sunday's final in their first ever meeting. The world number 61, like Williams, 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.

Meanwhile, Williams' sister, world number 1 Serena, pulled out of the Dubai Open on Saturday because of flu.