Ivanovic to face Venus in Auckland final

Serbia's Ana Ivanovic overcame a second set resistance to beat Belgium's Kirsten Flipkens on Friday and set up an Auckland Classic final against former World No 1 Venus Williams.

The tall American was given a walkover to the final after her compatriot, fifth seed Jamie Hampton, was forced to withdraw from their semi-final after suffering a right hip injury in practice.

The Australian Open, the first major of the year, starts in Melbourne on January 13.

Ivanovic, also a former World No 1 and 2008 French Open champion, stormed through the opening set against third seed Flipkens without dropping a game but the Belgian took her all the way in the second.

The 26-year-old prevailed in the tiebreaker, though, to win through 6-0, 7-6(3) and inch closer to a first WTA title since winning in Bali at the end of 2011.

But 33-year-old Williams, a seven-times Grand Slam singles champion, holds an eight-one record over Ivanovic in past matches and will be aiming for her 45th WTA singles title and first since Luxembourg at the end of 2012.

Image: Ana Ivanovic of Serbia celebrates a point during her semi-final against Kirsten Flipkens of Belgium at the Auckland Classic on Friday

Photograph: Hannah Johnston/Getty Images