Li Na beats Petra Kvitova 6-4, 6-2 to reach her 1st WTA Championships final

ISTANBUL – Li Na advanced to her first WTA Championships final by sweeping past 2011 winner Petra Kvitova 6-4, 6-2 on Saturday.

With the victory in the semifinal, Li will rise to a career-high No. 3 ranking, a jump of two places. She will play for the title against the winner of the other semifinal between Serena Williams or Jelena Jankovic.

Li is unbeaten in four matches in the tournament after failing to advance from the group stage in the previous two years.

The elite tournament brings together the top eight players in the world.