That’s not to say Williams wasn’t good at times, too.

She broke when Henin served for the first set at 5-4, ending a 10-stroke point with a backhand passing winner, and a 16-stroke exchange with a cross-court forehand winner on the line. In the next game, Williams won the point of the match on the 27th shot, a cross-court swinging forehand volley.

Wind swirled through Arthur Ashe Stadium, playing havoc with the ball, yet they engaged in several long points filled with reflex volleys, great gets and clean winners on the run.

It was precisely what might be expected from a couple of players who have combined to win 12 Slam singles titles.

Henin is the one who gets to try for her seventh overall and second at the U.S. Open. She won the 2003 title, was the runner-up last year, and will be a heavy favorite Saturday — her record against Kuznetsova is 14-2, including a victory in the 2006 French Open final.

“I don’t want to think about it,” said Kuznetsova, who got off to a horrible start in her all-Russian semifinal against No. 6 Anna Chakvetadze.

How horrible? Chakvetadze won the first set despite hitting only one winner.

And then, slowly but surely, 2004 champion Kuznetsova began keeping the ball between the lines, and Chakvetadze began missing shots short, long and wide. In full control late, Kuznetsova defeated Chakvetadze 3-6, 6-1, 6-1.

“I played the worst first set. I couldn’t put the ball in, and I was really embarrassed by my game,” Kuznetsova said. “When the nerves get in the middle, it’s tough.”

Eventually, it was Chakvetadze who was struggling to keep her composure, wiping away tears while waiting to return serves in the final game.

“I just played horrible,” she said. “Just couldn’t put the ball in the court.”

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