Mary Pierce stormed back after dropping the opening set to book a place in the final of the $170,000 Australian women's hardcourt championship in Gold Coast yesterday.

Pierce fought back to beat Romanian Irina Spirlea 4-6, 6-4, 6-1 and will face second seed Swiss Patty Schnyder in today's final.

Schnyder ousted defending champion Ai Sugiyama of Japan 6-2, 7-6 (7/5) and will play for her sixth Women's Tennis Association title against Pierce.

Pierce has beaten the 20-yearold Swiss star in their three previous matches, with the last encounter in 1997.

The 1995 Australian Open champion looked in trouble early on against Spirlea, who was let down by crucial double faults and 43 unforced errors.

"I was just happy to win the second set and that got me into the match," Pierce said.