BRISBANE, Australia -- With Serena Williams set to play Maria Sharapova in the Brisbane International semifinals Friday, her older sister Venus advanced to the ASB Classic final in Auckland, New Zealand, on a walkover.
Venus Williams, a seven-time Grand Slam singles winner and former No. 1 now ranked 47th, was due to play fellow American Jamie Hampton in the semifinals. Hampton was forced to withdraw, however, after suffering a right hip injury during a morning practice session.
Hampton said her decision to withdraw was prompted by the closeness of the Australian Open, which begins in Melbourne on Jan. 13.
Williams chose Auckland for her comeback after being sidelined by injuries since September. She has also been battling Sjogren's syndrome, an auto-immune system illness.
Williams' opponent in Saturday's final will be the winner of the second semifinal between former No. 1 and second-seeded Ana Ivanovic and her doubles partner Kirsten Flipkens of Belgium.
It will be Williams' first final since she captured the title in Luxembourg in October 2012.
Serena Williams and Sharapova will play in Brisbane later Friday, following the other semifinal between No.2-ranked Victoria Azarenka and Jelena Jankovic.
On the men's side in Brisbane, top-seeded Roger Federer will play Australian Marinko Matosevic in the men's quarterfinals, while veteran Lleyton Hewitt was to face Romanian qualifier Marius Copil.
At the Hopman Cup mixed team event in Perth, France can clinch a place in Saturday's final against Poland with a victory Friday over winless Spain. Alize Cornet gave France a 1-0 lead when she beat Anabel Medina Garrigues 6-2, 6-2 in the opening singles.
The United States takes on Czech Republic in a night match.
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