Acapulco, Mexico (SportsNetwork.com) - Australian Open runner-up Dominika Cibulkova and American Christina McHale secured a berth in the final at the Mexican Open tennis event.
The top-seeded Cibulkova was leading eighth-seeded Zhang Shuai 4-2 in the first set in Friday's first semifinal when the Chinese player retired on the red clay at the Fairmont Acapulco Princess.
McHale was pushed to the brink of elimination by France's Caroline Garcia, defeating her 6-3, 2-6, 7-5.
The 24-year-old world No. 13 Cibulkova is 3-6 in her career finals, with her last title coming in Stanford last year. She reached her first-ever Grand Slam final last month in Melbourne.
McHale, 21, will look to capture her first WTA title.
Cibulkova has won each of the two previous matches with McHale.
The 2014 Acapulco champion will collect $43,000.
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