Elena Dementieva can erase painful memories of Paris when she faces fellow Russian Svetlana Kuznetsova in the U.S. Open final later on Saturday.

The graceful Dementieva was reduced to tears after freezing in the French Open title showdown with countrywoman Anastasia Myskina earlier this year but has the perfect opportunity to put the record straight.

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Her victory over Jennifer Capriati on Friday and Kuznetsova's defeat of Lindsay Davenport threw cold water over hopes of an all-American final.

Last year it was two Belgians who gatecrashed the Flushing Meadows party, this year it is two Russians.

But it is a feeling the rest will have to get used to as the explosion of tennis in Russia shows no sign of burning itself out.

Before this year no Russian woman had ever won a Grand Slam tournament. Then, Myskina won at Roland Garros, 17-year-old Maria Sharapova triumphed at Wimbledon and now the U.S. Open will have a Russian champion for the first time.

The question is, which one?

Dementieva, at 22, is the more experienced player and under coach Olga Morozova has begun to fulfil the potential she showed when reaching the semi-finals here in 2000.

However, after a brutal third set against Capriati she may find it difficult to resist the powerful Kuznetsova.

"I'm dreaming of winning my first Grand Slam," said Dementieva, who has been troubled by a thigh injury throughout the tournament.

"If you want to be a champion you play through the pain, that's what I'm doing right now," she told reporters.

"I learnt a lesson from the French Open and will be much more positive tomorrow," added Dementieva, who was beaten 6-1, 6-2 by Myskina.

Kuznetsova, 19, a world-class doubles player, broke through in singles this year, winning the pre-Wimbledon grasscourt title at Eastbourne.

Like Dementieva, she also has a reason to want to forget the French Open. In the last 16, she squandered a match point against Myskina.

Now Kuznetsova, who has also reached the doubles final, wants the spotlight to herself.

"I could have changed history if I had won that point against Myskina, the match was in my hands," said Kuznetsova, who comes from a family of Olympic cyclists.

"I feel that the other Russian girls get more attention than me but I don't mind. When I start to do better, everybody will notice me.

"This is really big for me."