Venus Williams beat Roberta Vinci - conqueror of Serena Williams at the US Open - to reach the Wuhan Open final.
Vinci ended the younger Williams sister's hopes of completing a calendar Grand Slam in New York earlier this month, but went down 5-7 6-2 7-6 (7-4) to 35-year-old Venus.
"If I could I'd give this win to Serena at the US Open, but it doesn't work like that in tennis," said Williams.
She goes on to face Spain's Garbine Muguruza in the final in China.
Muguruza beat Germany's Angelique Kerber 6-4 7-6 (7-5), despite injuring her ankle during the second set tie-break.