Former French Open winner Li Na bagged the seventh career title when she overcame Cezch Klara Zakopalova 6-3, 1-6, 7-5 to win the inaugural Shenzhen Open on Saturday.
The two 30-year-old battled it out in the three-set thriller where Li managed to nail the victory on her first match point.
"Today was an especially big test," said the top seed. "We've played a few times, and it's never once been an easy match. The way she plays just isn't my favorite -- she hits a particularly flat ball -- so for every point I win, I really have to able to control the tempo."
Li will then compete in next week's Sydney event as a warm-up to the Australian Open where she will try to restore her glory as a former Grand Slam winner.
Li became not just the first Chinese but the first Asian to win a Grand Slam title in 2011 in the French Open.
In the doubles final, No.1 seeds from Chinese Taipei, Chan Hao-Ching and Chan Yung-Jan, defeated unseeded Irina Buryachok of Ukraine and Valeria Solovieva from Russia 6-0, 7-5.
Copyright ©1999-2011 Chinanews.com. All rights reserved.
Reproduction in whole or in part without permission is prohibited.
