SHENZHEN, China (AP) — Defending champion Li Na and Peng Shuai advanced Friday to set up an all-Chinese final at the Shenzhen Open.
Top-seeded Li defeated Germany’s Annika Beck 6-1, 6-3, while fifth-seeded Peng advanced in a walkover when American Vania King withdrew with a right thigh injury.
Li was leading 6-1, 5-0 when Beck reeled off three straight games, but the former French Open champion regrouped to close out the match.
King said she began feeling pain in her leg during her win over second-seeded Sara Errani in the second round and pulled out to rest before the Australian Open, which begins on Jan. 13.
Saturday’s final will be just the second in WTA history featuring two Chinese players. Li lost the first when she retired against Zheng Jie at Oeiras in 2006.
