Former world number ones Maria Sharapova and Jelena Jankovic will meet in the final of the Pan Pacific Open.
Radwanska and Li beaten in Tokyo semi-finals
Former world number one Maria Sharapova battled to a 6-3 2-6 6-4 victory over Agnieszka Radwanska to set up a meeting with Jelena Jankovic in the final of the Pan Pacific Open.
Sharapova, 25th in the world rankings and chasing her first title since shoulder surgery 11 months ago, overcame a mid-match slump to see off 11th seed Radwanska at the $2 million Tokyo event.
The Russian dominated to take the opening set 6-3 but lost her way in the second, double faulting to hand Radwanska a 5-2 lead and the Pole duly served out to level the contest.
Sharapova, a three-time Grand Slam winner prior to her rotator cuff injury, fell 2-0 down in the decider before drawing on her big-game experience to rescue the situation.
She reeled off five of the next seven games and, after squandering two match points, eventually closed out the victory with a cross-court backhand winner.
Tough
"It will be a tough final," Sharapova said.
"Jelena is one of the best players in the world and I'll have to fight for every point."
Jankovic, also a former world number one, had earlier booked her place in the final with a 6-4 6-3 success against China's Li Na.
"My tennis is coming back," Jankovic, the world number eight, said.
"It's been a very tough year but I still have a chance to win my third title which is pretty good."
