NEW YORK (AFP) - World No. 2 Jelena Jankovic advanced to her first career Grand Slam final by defeating Russian fifth seed, and Olympic champion, Elena Dementieva 6-4, 6-4 at the US Open on Friday.

"I have tears in my eyes," said an emotional Jankovic who will face either Serena Williams or Dinara Safina in Saturday's final.

"I have played in five semi-finals and to be in the final for first time in a Grand Slam is unbelievable. I'm thrilled."

Jankovic, who had to rally in both sets of the semi-final on a windy afternoon at the main Arthur Ashe Stadium, was playing in her 20th career Grand Slam tournament.

The final is scheduled for Saturday night but weather forecasters are predicting rain all day as the remnants of tropical storm Hanna move through the New York area.

Jankovic finished off her semi-final by breaking Dementieva for the fifth time in the set, winning it on the second match point when the Russian hit the final ball long.

"It was windy but I really tried to fight," said Jankovic, who will take over the world number one ranking if Safina beats Williams in the second semi-final.

Once again Beijing gold medal winner Dementieva seemed tormented by her serve.

She posted her sixth double fault in the final game and won just one point in the game when the chair umpire refused to let Jankovic challenge a ball the Serbian thought was long.

"I made too many unforced errors and she was trying to put everything in. I tried to go for the winners and couldn't close the point. I couldn't make it," said Dementieva who saw her 12-match win streak snapped.

Jankovic, who was a semi-finalist at the French Open in June, has won just one title in 2008. That came at the Italian Open where she defeated Venus Williams and Maria Sharapova en route to the final.