Top seed Sania Mirza is just one step away from her second consecutive ITF singles title after the Indian tennis ace pipped local favourite Sharon Fichman to reach the final of the Odlum Brown VanOpen here.
Sania did not look at her best in the semifinal as the unheralded Canadian stretched her to three sets before the Indian eventually prevailed 6-7 (6), 6-3, 6-2.
In the final, Sania takes on second seeded Canadian Stephanie Dubois, who will have the local crowd cheering for her.
Stephanie edged out American qualifier Mashona Washington 6-2 4-6 6-3 in the other semifinal.
Sania's only previous meeting with her dates back to the 2003 Canadian Open Junior Championship when Stephanie had the last laugh.
Sania looked in ominous form as she raced to a 4-1 lead in the opening set before Fichman caught up with her.
Sania one step away from Vancouver ITF title
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