Top seed Maria Sharapova of Russia has withdrawn from the semifinals of the China Open tennis tournament in Beijing, giving countrywoman Maria Kirilenko a slot in the final.
Sharapova was trailing, 6-4, 2-1, when she pulled out because of an injury to her right pectoral muscle. The crowd booed when the top-seeded Russian retired from the semifinal.
In Sunday's final, Kirilenko faces Germany's Anna-Lena Groenefeld, a straight-set winner over Marta Domachowska of Poland 7-5, 6-4.
Sharapova is the latest of several players to withdraw because of injury. World number two Lindsay Davenport of the United States pulled out of the tournament before it started because of back trouble. Venus Williams of the United States withdrew from her quarterfinal match Friday because of a knee problem.
Some information for this report provided by AFP and AP.
