Cramps provided an anti-climactic ending to the first-ever WTA final between two Chinese women as Jie Zheng defeated an injured Li Na 6-7 (5/7), 7-5, retired, for the Estoril Open title here on Sunday.
Li, who lost the final here on clay a year ago to Czech Lucie Safarova, was unable to continue into the third set, a victim of nerves during the biggest moment of her career.
Cramps in her left leg forced the eighth seed to pack in the match after two hours, one minute. The 24-year-old ranked 70th, was in such pain, she was unable to come to the net for the trophy ceremony at the Estadio Nacional.
The number 49 Jie now holds a commanding 4-0 record against her compatriot, with whom she trains almost on a daily basis.
In Estoril, Li and her rival played a marathon opening set lasting 62 minutes, with the first three games lasting a quarter of an hour as the pair who train together almost every day felt each other out.
Li jumped out first, with the eighth seed claiming a break in the third game and flirting with a 4-1 lead before Jie pegged her back by holding her service. Three games later, Jie recovered the break for 4-4, but Li seized the tiebreaker, winning it on her first opportunity, 7-5.