Fourth-seeded Patty Schnyder's 75-minute workout on court resembled that of a surgeon's work in an operation theatre – precise and clinical. The Swiss outclassed giant-killer Zi Yan in the semifinals of the $600,000 Bangalore Open in front of a near capacity crowd at the KSLTA stadium courts on Saturday.

The world No 12 scored a lop-sided 6-3, 6-4 victory over the unheralded Chinese to storm into the final of the Tier II WTA Tour event here. In the title clash, the 29-year-old will take Serena Williams, who edged past sister Venus 6-3, 3-6, 7-6 (7-4) in the other semifinal.

After her shock opening round win against Maria Kirilenko and a sensational quarterfinal victory over top-seeded Jelena Jankovic on Friday, much was expected of Yan, but Schynder was ready for Yan. The southpaw didn't give the Chinese the pace she likes and her heavy top-spins brooked no answers from Yan. She often forced the 54th-ranked player into errors. Besides, the Swiss player's kick-serves were too hot to handle for the Chinese.
"She (Schnyder) gave me a lot of trouble," Yan noted. "The balls bounced over my shoulder for the most part and handling her kick-serves was a huge problem. I still had breakpoints, but was not lucky today," she added.
There was no luck factor involved though, Schnyder was the master of the evening. She got broken alright, but the calm and composed fourth seed was never in trouble, she couldn't do much wrong.

"I like the high balls and it took a while to get used to,” Schnyder said.
Yan never did. Schnyder broke the Chinese girl in the opening game. Though she dropped serve in the fourth, Schnyder broke right back in the fifth to take charge. A Yan double fault in the ninth gave Schnyder the first set.
Yan tried to change her game plan in the second set. She tried to take the ball early to smother the spin, but it came to nought. Schynder switched hers too, drawing Yan to the net and make the passing shots. The Chinese was reduced to a spectator for the most part.

The two traded breaks in the fourth and fifth, but an error-strewn game in the eighth allowed Schnyder a chance to serve out the match. But the fourth seed committed a slew of errors to give Yan some hope, but the Chinese girl didn't take it. Schnyder's brilliant winner off a Yan drop shot had the crowd on its feet in the tenth game and it was all over bar the shouting when the Chinese served a double fault.

As regards her opponent in the final, Schnyder remarked: "I prefer Serena to Venus, I have beaten her before."
Sun-Peng pair wins
In doubles action earlier, the third-seeded pair of Tiantian Sun and Shuai Peng of China moved into the title round with a clinical win over compatriots Ji Chumei and Shengnan Sun.

The 6-3, 6-2 demolition earned them a clash against the top-seeded Chinese Taipei pair of Jung-Jan Chan and Chia-Jung Chuang. Tiantian, winner of the Olympic gold along with Li Ting, was the dominant partner in the 59-minute encounter.

Results (Semifinals): Singles: Patty Schnyder (Sui) bt Zi Yan (Chn) 6-3, 6-4; Serena Williams (US) bt Venus Williams (US) 6-3, 3-6, 7-6 (7-4).
Doubles: Tiantian Sun/ Shuai Peng (Chn) bt Chunmei Ji/ Shengnan Sun (Chn) 6-3, 6-2.