"I really wanted to win," Myskina told reporters. "I didn't think how I was going to win, I just fought for every point."
The third seed now meets American Lindsay Davenport, who earlier in the day stormed into her third successive final by overcoming Russia's Elena Dementieva 6-2, 6-4.
Davenport, the fourth seed, beat Serena Williams last week to win the JP Morgan Chase title and Venus Williams to clinch the Stanford title the previous week.
In a remarkable tussle lasting two hours 28 minutes, the volatile Myskina had to call upon all her reserves to down her Fed Cup team mate.
The match featured frequent outbursts by Myskina, 23, aimed at her coach Jens Erlach. Zvonareva, 19, also twice clubbed balls over the stadium in frustration.
Myskina saved the first match-point at 4-5 down in the third set when Zvonareva was wild with a backhand down the line.
The tie-break in the deciding set see-sawed back and forth, with both women coming up with amazing shots at crunch times.
On five of the eight match-points she warded off in the tiebreak, Myskina came up with winners, while Zvonareva also had to save four match points.
LOST CONTROL
"I thought I was going to lose," Myskina said. "I was controlling the match and then I lost control.
"Vera was playing unbelievable. The weakest part of my game is in the head and I started to lose it."
The 12th-seeded Zvonareva wept after the match but said she could have done little more.
"I was playing my best and sometimes it just doesn't work," said Zvonareva. "I had some lucky shots and so did she...it was a great match."
Davenport hurt her right knee in the second set against Dementieva but believes she will be fit for the final.
"It looks like I jammed the kneecap and not my problematic areas which are the bones and cartilage," said the 28-year-old American. "It looks like the pain is unrelated to my previous surgery, so I'm really relieved.
"I feel lucky because it could have been worse. I'm really optimistic for tomorrow (Sunday).
"I really want to play because this would be incredible to win three in a row again."
Davenport also triumphed at Stanford, Carson, where the JP Morgan Chase is held, and San Diego in succession in 1998 before going on to lift the U.S. Open.
