Peer, Brianti win Guangzhou semifinals

GUANGZHOU, China, Sept. 19 (UPI) -- Israel's Shahar Peer and Italy's Alberta Brianti were semifinal winners Saturday at the Guangzhou Women's Open tennis tournament in China.

Peer, the fifth seed, advanced to a final for the first time in more than 2 1/2 years when her opponent, China's Peng Shuai, the third seed, retired with a right wrist injury in the second set. Peer had won the first set 6-4 and was up 1-0 in the second.

"Tennis is a game where you can have ups and downs like today," said Shuai, who called her injury an unfortunate accident.

In Sunday's final, Peer faces the eighth-seeded Brianti for the first time in their respective careers.

Brianti was a 6-3, 7-5 winner over seventh-seeded Ayumi Morita of Japan.

Sunday's Peer-Brianti winner will take home a $37,000 champion's check.

Peer tries for her fourth career title, while Brianti plays in a final for the first time.