Sharapova Joins WTA Injury Exodus at Beijing

Chinese fans have received the brunt of the injury pull-outs ravaging the WTA Tour this week, on Saturday booing Maria Sharapova as she retired trailing fellow Russian Maria Kirilenko 4-6, 1-2 with her recurring chest-muscle injury.

"It comes on unexpectedly from day to day and I can't control it," said Sharapova on the injury she has dealt with since late 2004. "I'm not a player who goes on court without intending to finish a match. It's bad enough to have to withdraw before you play, but to retire during a match is even more disappointing."

Venus Williams had withdrew on Friday with a left knee injury, so now the Sunday Beijing final will now be an all-unseeded affair.

"I'm very excited," said German Anna-Lena Groenefeld, who won the other semifinal 7-5, 6-3 over Poland's Marta Domachowska. "I hope it's going to be my first title."

The No. 30-ranked Groenefeld and the No. 45-ranked Kirilenko will square off in the final with the winner walking away with their first WTA title, not quite the expected final for Chinese fans with four former No. 1s expected in the field.

Earlier in the week Serena Williams suffered a shock loss to Tiantian Sun, blaming her knee injury, and Lindsay Davenport withdrew right before the tournament began with a back injury.

Groenefeld beat Kirilenko in their only career meeting on clay in 2003.

In the doubles final China's Yan Zi and Zheng Jie will rally the Beijing crowd against Nuria Llagostera Vives and Maria Vento-Kabchi.