Estoril Open 2006 News and Events

Na Li
© Wire Image

For the first time at a Sony Ericsson WTA Tour event, two Chinese women will contest the championship match.

Sixth-seeded Jie Zheng will take on Chinese compatriot and No. 8 seed Na Li in the Estoril Open final on Sunday.

Zheng advanced to her third singles final, comprehensively beating No. 1 seed Flavia Pennetta 6-2, 6-3, while Li stopped No. 7 seed Emilie Loit 7-5, 6-2.

"It will be exciting to play in the first final between Chinese," said Zheng.

"I have the higher ranking but Li Na is more powerful on the court. We train together every day, so we know each other's games well."

Zheng converted five of ten break points in the 60-minute semifinal win, capitalizing on Pennetta’s poor performance on return of serve: 18 of 51 point won.

It was the 22-year-old Chinese player’s first victory over Pennetta since Bali in 2003 – their first career meeting.

With Pennetta’s boyfriend Carlos Moya in the men’s singles semifinals, the result means that Kim Clijsters and Lleyton Hewitt remain the last couple to win titles at the same event - Indian Wells in 2003.

Zheng will hope to add to her lone title, won in Hobart last year, on Sunday, against Li - the player who ended the unbeaten run of Loit, the 2004 winner, at the Estadio Nacional.

Li, who finished runner-up to Czech Lucia Safarova last year, said: "I really want to finally win here. I have to be tough mentally but I can only try to play my best."

The 2004 Guangzhou champion will look to break a 0-3 record against Zheng.