Li, Schiavone in final

PARIS – Li Na is back in a Grand Slam final, reaching her second straight major championship match by defeating Maria Sharapova 6-4, 7-5 Thursday in the French Open semifinals.

The Australian Open runner-up became the first Chinese player to reach a Grand Slam final.

In Saturday’s final, Li will face defending champion Francesca Schiavone. The fifth-seeded Schiavone, who last year became the first Italian woman to win a Grand Slam singles title, defeated No. 11 Marion Bartoli of France 6-3, 6-3.

The finalists are a combined 60 years, 79 days in age, making it the oldest women’s Grand Slam final since 1998.

Associated Press