Forest Hills, NY (My Sportsbook) - Top-seeded Russian Elena Likhovtseva needed three sets on Friday to reach the title match at the inaugural Forest Hills Women's Tennis Classic -- a final U.S. Open tune-up. Czech Iveta Benesova will oppose Likhovtseva in Saturday's finale here.

Likhovtseva, seeing her first action of the week, started off slow against Spaniard Anabel Medina Garrigues before charging back for a 3-6, 6-0, 6-1 victory on the hardcourt at The West Side Tennis Club -- the former site of the U.S. Open.

The 28-year-old Likhovtseva reached the final by playing in only one match, after receiving an opening-round bye and advancing via walkover in the quarters when her scheduled opponent, France's Marion Bartoli, pulled out due to injury on Thursday at this small 15-player event.

The surging Likhovtseva was the runner-up to French star Amelie Mauresmo in Montreal just three weeks ago. The veteran Russian owns two career singles titles on the WTA, with her last one coming in 1997.

The fourth-seeded Benesova handled Belgian wild card Kirsten Flipkens 7-5, 6-2 to reach her third career final -- all this year. The 21-year-old Benesova secured her first career title in Acapulco earlier this season and lost to France's Emilie Loit in a title match in Estoril.

Likhovtseva and Benesova will meet for the first time on Saturday.

The winner of this $65,882 tournament will earn $16,000.