Top-seeded Li Na defended her Shenzhen Open title on Saturday by defeating Peng Shuai 6-4, 7-5 in only the second all-Chinese final on the WTA Tour.
Li captured her eighth career WTA title and first since Shenzhen last year. Peng is now winless in six finals.
The No. 3-ranked Li is hoping to build momentum heading into the Australian Open where she has reached the final in two of the last three years. She lost to Victoria Azarenka in last year’s final and fell to Kim Clijsters in 2011.
Li retired against Zheng Jie in the only other WTA Tour final featuring two Chinese players at the Estoril Open in 2006.
