Second seed Lindsay Davenport fought off a late comeback by unseeded Russian teenager Elena Dementieva to reach the US Open women's singles final.

Up a set and 5-2 with four match points on her service, the 24-year-old American tightened up and dropped the next four games before winning the tie-break.

"I'm happy to be in the final but disappointed by the way it ended," said Davenport.

"I was cruising and all of a sudden, I wasn't getting any first serves in anymore and I was holding back while she started to come up with some good shots."

High note

Everything had started on a high note for Davenport. She picked up where she had left off, displaying the same dominance she had in her quarter-final win over defending champion Serena Williams.

Unforced errors and nerves crept into the young Russians game early on as Davenport broke in the first and third game of the match to race to a 4-0 lead.

The heavy-hitting American broke a final time in the eighth game to secure the set and went up 5-2, 40-0 with three match points on hand.

Two unforced forehand errors and a overhead smash winner allowed Dementieva to get even.

The Russian saved a fourth match point on a forehand wide by Davenport.

Momentum

The gutsy Russian grabbed the momentum and won four consecutive games to go-up 6-5, then 5-4 in the tie-breaker before succumbing to nerves.

She netted two easy returns in the tie-breaker on Davenport's second serves and surrendered on a desperate Davenport lob that caught the line.

"I started slowly and I was making too many mistakes," said Dementieva.

"I found my game and played more relaxed. But it was too late. I need to improve my serve. My grandmother can serve better."