Sharapova beats Li to advance to China Open final

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Sharapova beats Li to advance to China Open final

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Sharapova needed only 33 minutes to take the second set, winning 25 of the 34 points played.

06 October,2012 02:34 pm

Maria Sharapova will play for her fourth title of the year at the China Open after securing a 6-4, 6-0 semifinal victory over seventh-seeded Li Na of China on Saturday.The No. 2-seeded Sharapova won three clay court titles this season, including the French Open.It took Sharapova 68-minutes to secure the first set. The Russian finally went ahead when Li , serving at 4-5, sailed a forehand long on a second set point in the 10th game.Li saved the first set point in the opening set with a winning volley smash at 30-40, but made the forehand error two points later to lose her serve and the set.Sharapova needed only 33 minutes to take the second set, winning 25 of the 34 points played.She will face the winner of the semifinal between top-ranked Victoria Azarenka of Belarus and ninth-seeded Marion Bartoli of France in Sundays final.