Blake will play his second final in a week in New Haven

Blake, who lost to Roger Federer in the Cincinnati final last week, struggled past Paul-Henri Mathieu of France 6-4 3-6 7-6 (7-2).

Fish defeated big-serving Croatian Ivo Karlovic 7-6 (7-3) 6-4.

Svetlana Kuznetsova overcame Elena Dementieva, who quit with dehydration, and faces 18-year-old Hungarian qualifier Agnes Szavay in the final.

Szavay fought back from 3-1 down in the final set to beat Eleni Danilidou 4-6 6-1 7-5 for her seventh victory in eight days.

"From the qualifying, it's really tough," she said. "I feel my muscles everywhere and I hope the (trainers) can help me get ready for tomorrow."

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Kuznetsova said: "It was hot. I guess (Dementieva) was feeling dizzy but I was not well, too.

"It was weird, at the start I was suffering with the heat and breathing. But I know she was tired. Knowing that, I hung in there."

Kuznetsova reached the semi-final when Italian Francesca Schiavone retired after just a set due to a left ankle injury.

"We were talking about it with my coach. I've never had this twice in a row," said the Russian.

Blake came through despite serving at 5-4 and 40-15 in the third set, before Mathieu forced deuce and then broke.

"A lot of people would have gotten down on themselves after letting a couple of match points get away from them," said the American.