US Open champion Sharapova is the top seed at the Linz Open

The defeat effectively ends Schnyder's hopes of playing in the season-ending WTA Championships in Madrid next month.

Sharapova will play defending champion Nadia Petrova in an all-Russian decider on Sunday.

Petrova defeated fourth seed Nicole Vaidisova 6-1 6-2 to reach her seventh final of the season.

Sharapova broke early against Schnyder to lead 2-1 but failed to convert three set points on her opponent's serve at 5-3.

She then wasted another set point on her own serve before losing the game to go to 5-5.

The Russian broke again for 6-5 when her opponent hit a backhand long, but had to hold off a break point before finally clinching the set on her sixth set point.

Sharapova immediately lost her own serve after breaking for 1-0 in the second set, but then broke again for a decisive 6-5 lead when Schnyder netted a forehand.

Although she double-faulted on her first match point, she then served an ace on her third to win.

"I am so excited to play another final," Sharapova said. "I am mentally a bit tired, so I was happy to win against Patty in two sets."

Petrova has also been in impressive form, dropping just nine games in three matches on her way to the final.

She broke Vaidisova twice to quickly wrap up the first set and early in the second set, the Czech lost her serve again and from then on Petrova dominated.