Li, Zakopalova to meet in Shenzhen final

Li Na and Klara Zakopalova each lost just four games Friday in semifinal victories at the Shenzhen Gemdale Open tennis tournament in China. Li, seeded No. 1, eliminated sixth-seeded Peng Shuai 6-4, 6-0, improving to 5-1 lifetime against her Chinese countrywoman. Li piled up six breaks -- three in each set -- in the win and took more than 60 percent of the points in the match. Zakopalova, who also had six breaks Friday, advanced with a 6-1, 6-3 win over Monica Niculescu. She also won more than 60 percent of the points. Zakopalova is 2-1 against Li but Li took their most recent match 6-1, 6-0 last year in California. Li is 6-8 in WTA tournament title matches after going 1-3 in finals last year. Zakopalova will be appearing in her first title match since September 2010. She's just 2-9 in previous finals, with both wins coming in 2005. The Shenzhen champion will take home $112,080 while the runner-up earns $56,040. Niculescu and Peng each collected $30,051 as semifinalists. From UPI