An all-unseeded semifinal at the Dubai Duty Free Tennis Championships saw Jasmine Paolini hold off Sorana Cirstea 6-2, 7-6.
The Italian saved six set points in the second set to reach the first WTA 1000 final of her career in 1 hour and 57 minutes.
Cirstea, 33, was bidding to become the second-oldest player to enter the top 20 for the first time, and to reach a WTA 1000 final for the first time in 11 years.
But it was Paolini who maintained her perfect record against the Romanian, improving to 3-0 overall.
Qualifier Anna Kalinskaya faces World No. 1 Iga Swiatek in the other semi-final on Friday.
In the doubles competition, No.3 seeds Nicole Melichar-Martinez and Ellen Perez advanced to their second final of the season after defeating Aliaksandra Sasnovich and Laura Siegemund 6-3, 6-2.
Melichar-Martinez and Perez will next face either No.2 seeds Gabriela Dabrowski and Erin Routliffe or No.4 seeds Storm Hunter and Katerina Siniakova.
Arsenal's Leandro Trossard capitalised on dreadful defending to secure a 1-0 win against Manchester United that saw the Gunners climb back to the top of the Premier League, ensuring the title race will be decided on the final day.
UAE Team Emirates rider Tadej Pogacar has retained his overall lead after Dutchman Olav Kooij won stage nine of the Giro d'Italia on Sunday, pipping Jonathan Milan by half a wheel right at the finish line in a breathless sprint at the end of a 214-km ride from Avezzano to Naples.
Rory McIIroy claimed his fourth Wells Fargo Championship after a superb back nine saw him finish -17 par having trailed by two shots after seven holes.
Alejandro Tabilo claimed the biggest win of his career beating world number one Novak Djokovic 6-2 6-3 in the third round of the Italian Open, two days after the Serbian was hit on the head by a water bottle.
Norwich City and Leeds United played out a goalless draw in the first leg of their Championship play-offs semi-final tie as both teams seek a return to the Premier League.