Sania shocks Li Na to enter singles final

DOHA: India's tennis star Sania Mirza settled an old score by upsetting top seed Chinese Li Na in straight sets and keeping herself on track for a coveted gold in the women's singles event of the Asian Games on Tuesday.     

The 20-year-old Sania showed no signs of nerves to pull off a 6-2 6-2 victory over her opponent to storm into the final in style after a tussle which lasted for one hour and six minutes at the Khalifa international stadium.

It was a clinical exhibition of power play as the Indian star, ranked 66th in the world, packed punch into her serves and produced a barrage of forehand winners to leave her opponent in a daze.

The 24-year-old Na, ranked 21st in the world, appeared to be off colour as she committed a number of unforced errors to give the match on a platter to Sania.

Beating Na, who became the first Chinese woman to reach Wimbledon quarterfinals this year, has significance for Sania.

On the only occasion the two had met before, in the final of the Asian Tennis Championships in Tashkent in 2004, Na had conquered the Hyderabadi lass to confirm a wild card entry into the Australian Open main draw the following January.

Na improved her ranking in the subsequent weeks and by the year end had reached such a high that she had a direct entry into the first Grand Slam on the calendar.

That wild card was passed on to Sania, and the rest is history.