The 19-year-old Szavay, who won her first two singles titles and reached the U.S. Open quarter-finals last year, will meet top seed Anna Chakvetadze [Images] of Russia [Images] or Frenchwoman Marion Bartoli in Sunday's final.

Dementieva, seeded fourth in the indoor event, recovered from the loss of the first set to take the second easily.

The Russian opened up a 3-1 lead in the decisive set and served for the match, leading 5-4, but Szavay, seeded seventh, kept fighting to seal victory when her opponent hit a backhand long on set point.

(Reporting by Myrtille Rambion, writing by Patrick Vignal, editing by Alison Wildey)