( CNN ) -- Li Na made tennis history Friday -- and another entry in the record books is within her reach . Having become the first Chinese player to reach the semifinals of the season-ending WTA Championships , she can become the first Asian to be ranked as high as third in the world if she beats Petra Kvitova on Saturday . Li is currently fifth but has been as high as fourth -- which has only been matched by Japan 's Kimiko Date-Krumm , back in the 1990s . Victory over Kvitova will put her above Maria Sharapova , who is absent with a shoulder injury , and Agnieszka Radwanska -- who lost all three matches this week . She ensured there would be no repeat of her two previous disappointments in Istanbul as she defeated injury-hit world No . 2 Victoria Azarenka 6-2 6-1 to win her third successive match in the White Group . `` I know this is not the best way to win the match , '' Li said , referring to the Belorussian 's fitness problems . `` I saw her a little bit bothered with her back but she kept playing , so it was very tough for me mentally . `` If she were healthy she would have been a very tough opponent today . Unfortunately she was n't healthy . I have to enjoy this moment , but I hope the injury is n't too bad and she can come back soon . '' Having beaten the 2011 runner-up , Li will next face that year 's victor after fourth seed Kvitova battled back to seal her last-four place with a 6-7 ( 3-7 ) 6-2 6-3 win over Angelique Kerber . Kvitova finished second in the Red Group behind world No . 1 Serena Williams , who had a rest day after notching up three successive wins in her title defense . The American will face former top-ranked Serbian Jelena Jankovic , whose closing defeat against the already-eliminated Sara Errani of Italy was meaningless following Li 's win . Kvitova revealed that she is reaping the benefits of working with a new fitness coach since the U.S. Open , where she exited in the third round . Since then she won the title in Tokyo and lost to Jankovic in the Beijing semis after beating Li in the previous round . `` We had like 14 days of hard work , so I think that it shows on the court , '' the world No . 6 said of her post-New York training regime . `` I felt very confident on the court when I played in Tokyo , which was better , and I played two matches in one day , so I thought that it 's going to be tough but I did quite well . '' Azarenka , however , has struggled at the tail end of this season -- which she began so brightly at the top of the rankings before beating Li in January 's Australian Open final to deny the Chinese player a second grand slam title . `` I served really hard , and I do n't know , just really locked my back , '' the U.S. Open finalist said , and then explained why she did n't retire hurt . `` I do n't have a tournament next week . The physio told me , 'You 're really locked . There is no real structure damage , but you ca n't fix it that quickly . `` I just wanted to try to do my best for the fans who came and watched our match , for respect for my opponent . It was just about trying to do the most you can out there . `` I think I can learn a lot from these little things to prevent maybe some of the injuries . Some things you can not , but , you know , for the next year I will be ready , much better , I 'm sure about it . ''
Li Na to play Petra Kvitova in final of WTA Championships on Saturday . Chinese star will become Asia 's highest - ranked player if she beats the Czech . Jelena Lara will face world No . 1 Serena Williams in other last - four match . Serbian goes through despite losing to already - eliminated Sara Errani .