Mason, OH (Sports Network) - Li Na of China and Angelique Kerber of Germany
were each victorious in Saturday's semifinals to move into the final at the
WTA's $2.168 million Western & Southern Open.
The ninth-seeded Li defeated wild card Venus Williams 7-5, 3-6, 6-1 on the
hardcourts at the Lindner Family Tennis Center.
Li saved 4-of-7 break point opportunities and took advantage of eight double
faults from Williams to advance to her second-straight WTA final after she
finished as runner-up to Czech Petra Kvitova in Montreal last week.
Kvitova's bid for back-to-back titles ended at the hands of Kerber, who ousted
the fourth-seeded Czech 6-1, 2-6, 6-4, to secure her place in the final.
The fifth-seeded left-hander smashed four aces, including three in the
decisive third set to oust Kvitova in just under two hours.
The rising Kerber is 2-1 in three WTA finals so far this year, while Li is
still in search of her first title of the season.
The Sports Network