American James Blake overcame a 4-2 first-set deficit to beat Russian Nikolay Davydenko 6-4, 6-2 on Friday and advance to the Sydney International final.


Russia's Igor Andreev beat Andreas Seppi of Italy 6-2, 2-6, 6-2 in an earlier rain-delayed semi to advance to Saturday's final against Blake.


Andreev and Blake will both be vying for their fourth career ATP tournament wins. Blake has a 2-0 career edge, both on hardcourts.


The women's final between Justine Henin-Hardenne and Italy's Francesca Schiavone was scheduled for later Friday.


After falling behind in the first set, Blake watched as Davydenko failed to hold his service for the rest of the match, including the deciding game of the second set when the American won on his second match point.


Earlier, after a rain delay of nearly three hours, Seppi, who upset top-seeded Lleyton Hewitt in the quarterfinals, held serve to win the second set after leading 5-2.


Andreev quickly went up a service break in the deciding set, broke again at 4-2 and then won on his third match point as light rain began falling again at the former Olympic complex.


The 22-year-old Russian won his first three ATP singles titles last year, losing just once in four finals. In his first tournament win last year on clay at Valencia, Spain, Andreev beat Roger Federer in the quarterfinals and David Ferrer of Spain in the final.


``There are a lot of good players here, so I'm happy to be where I am,'' said Andreev, who earlier in the tournament eliminated France's Richard Gasquet. ``After beating the No. 4 seed in the first round, I've grown in confidence. I've learned how to fight for the important points.''


The seventh-seeded Schiavone will attempt to win her first final in six attempts, but has so far failed to beat Henin-Hardenne in three previous matches.


The fifth-seeded Henin-Hardenne won the Sydney International in 2004, when she went on to win the Australian Open title two weeks later. The Belgian player is aiming to win her 24th WTA title.


WagerWeb