PARIS -- Top-seeded Venus Williams defeated defending champion Amelie Mauresmo 4-6, 7-6 (3), 7-5 Saturday to advance to the final of the Paris Open.

Williams advanced to a Sunday final against fourth-seeded Jelena Dokic, who defeated Monica Seles 6-3, 3-6, 6-4.

The crowd at the at Paris' Pierre de Coubertin indoor stadium cheered for Mauresmo, giving the French player cheers of "Allez Amelie."

"She's just an incredible player," Williams said. "It was very difficult."

Mauresmo's power serves and strong baseline game had Williams repeatedly stumbling to catch her footing. Williams, a four-time Grand Slam champion, predicted that Mauresmo has a strong future.

"She's definitely going to win some slams in the future," Williams said.

Dokic, 18, won for the first time in five matches against Seles.

"I really didn't think I was going to win," Dokic said.

Seles, 28, said she got rattled by Dokic's strong serve.

"She was much more aggressive," Seles said. "I had a really difficult time breaking her."

Dokic drew hisses and boos from the crowd in the third set after repeatedly disputing lines calls. At one point she walked from the referee's chair wiping tears from her eyes.

"At such crucial points in the third set. it's upsetting," Dokic said.