Pennetta topples Li to reach Indian Wells final

INDIAN WELLS, Mar 15 (AFP): Flavia Pennetta stunned Li Na in straight sets on Friday, avenging a loss to the Australian Open champion in Melbourne and booking an Indian Wells title clash with Agnieszka Radwanska.
In a match that featured entertaining rallies but also 11 breaks of serve-eight straight in the opening set -- 32-year-old Pennetta prevailed 7-6 (7/5), 6-3 to reach the biggest final of her career.
"I think we play really good tennis tonight," Pennetta said. "We fight a lot."
It was a contrast to their clash in the Australian Open quarter-finals, where Li crushed Pennetta 6-2, 6-2 en route to her second Grand Slam title.
"In Australia I didn't have any chance against her," Pennetta said. "Tonight I played much better.
"I mean, I'm surprised also because in the beginning of the week if you ask me, 'What do you think? You going to make a final here?' I would say, 'Mmmm, I don't think so.'"
Pennetta's victims in the $12 million (8.6 million euros) combined WTA and ATP Masters tournament included former US Open champion Samantha Stosur as well as Sloane Stephens, the 16th and 17th seeds.