TOKYO, Japan - Jelena Jankovic took one step closer to her third Sony Ericsson WTA Tour title of the year on Friday, beating Li Na to reach the final of the Toray Pan Pacific Open. Maria Sharapova awaits after a thrilling three set win in the second semifinal. 
Tokyo: SF Highlights
For the second straight match, Jankovic took on one of her nemeses and won. In Thursday's quarterfinals, she defied a 3-5 head-to-head against Marion Bartoli with a 64 63 win; in the semifinals she went up against a 2-4 head-to-head record but defeated Li - by the exact same scoreline, as well.
The No.7-seeded Jankovic played aggressively when it mattered and put up some solid defense as well to beat the No.15-seeded Li, 64 63, in an hour and 58 minutes. She benefited from over 40 errors from the Chinese No.1.
"Li Na is a player who should be in the Top 10. She has a great game. But she has been unlucky with her injuries," Jankovic said. "My tennis is coming back. So much has happened in my life this year off the court and it has been a tough year, but I believe in myself." Interview: Jelena Jankovic
Jankovic will be playing her third final of the year, having won her first two, at Marbella in April and Cincinnati in August. She is 11-10 lifetime in finals.
Sharapova followed Jankovic into the final with a 63 26 64 win over No.11 seed Agnieszka Radwanska, rallying from 0-2 in the third set to prevail. It was her fourth win in the pairing's five meetings; Radwanska's win came in an early round stunner at the US Open in 2007 - Sharapova has now beaten her three times in a row since then. Highlights: Sharapova vs. A.Radwanska
"I missed those match points by a hair," said Sharapova, who had match points at 5-3 in the third set but ended up closing it out a game later. "I knew I had to keep going for it and I did. I was able to step it up. I'm one win away now and I have to lay it all on the line." Interview: Maria Sharapova
Sharapova will be playing her second final of the year, having finished runner-up in her first, at Toronto. She is 19-8 lifetime in finals. It will be the Russian's second final at the Toray Pan Pacific Open, having won the title four years ago.
Sharapova holds a 4-1 head-to-head lead over Jankovic, and 3-0 on hardcourt.
"I'm happy to have two titles this year and if I can get a third tomorrow that would be a great year for me," Jankovic added. "I haven't played Maria for a long time and I don't really know how she's playing, but I still have a chance to win."
"I expect a tough match," Sharapova said. "Jelena is a very solid player, a great mover, so it will be a very physical match. I'll have to fight for every point."
