Radwanska needed seven match points to finally clinch a 6-3, 6-4 victory in one hour and 32 minutes over the Chinese star on the Ken Rosewall Arena.The world number four will play either German second seed Angelique Kerber or Slovakia's Dominika Cibulkova in Friday's decider.

Radwanska became the first top seed to reach the Sydney final since American Serena Williams three years ago.She is in hot form ahead of next week's Australian Open in Melbourne after a victory in Auckland last week, where she beat Yanina Wickmayer to lift the trophy.

For Li, who won the title in Shenzhen last week, it was her first defeat in nine matches in the new season.She fought hard against the Pole but errors at crucial times ultimately cost her the match.

The Chinese star, who won in Sydney two years ago, netted a drop shot from the baseline on set point and then lost the match with another netted drop shot.It was Li's ninth match in 10 days and she said it took her time to recover between points during the semi.