China's Li Na has ensured there'll be no change to the women's world No.1 tennis ranking until at least the Australian Open after a fighting three-set win over Petra Kvitova in the semi-finals of the Sydney International.
Defending champion Li, her country's sole grand slam winner after claiming last year's French Open crown, recovered from a set and a break down to beat the Czech 1-6 7-5 6-2.
With current world No.1 Caroline Wozniacki's loss in Wednesday's quarter-final to Agnieszka Radwanska, the door was left open for Kvitova to assume the mantle of the top player in women's tennis - assuming she won the Sydney title on Friday night.
But Kvitova was tripped up at the penultimate hurdle by the world No.5, who'll now play the winner of the Radwanska-Victoria Azarenka match in the title decider.
