Williams makes first final of '04

CHARLESTON -- Venus Williams beat Jelena Kostanic of Croatia 6-4, 6-1 Saturday at the Family Circle Cup, capitalizing on a strong serve to reach her first final of the year.

In today's final, she will face Spain's Conchita Martinez, who defeated Switzerland's Patty Schnyder 6-4, 6-3.

Martinez and Schnyder taunted each other in their match, and Schnyder refused to shake her opponent's hand afterward. The 16th-seeded Martinez won this tournament in 1994 and '95.

Williams struggled with unforced errors in the first set but had no trouble in the second. Kostanic left the court at the end of the first set to treat a cramp.

"It wasn't that painful," she said. "You know it's there and it made me scared a little."

The fourth-seeded Williams is the highest seed left after the top three seeds, including sister Serena, withdrew with injuries.