Shuai Zhang delighted home fans at the Guangzhou Open as she earned a final clash with Aleksandra Krunic by beating Evgeniya Rodina.
China's Zhang ousted Russia's Rodina 7-6, 6-3 to earn a showdown with Serbia's Krunic, who booked her own place with a routine 6-3 6-3 success over Yanina Wickmayer.
Zhang, seeded second in the tournament, won her first and last WTA title at the same tournament four years ago.
Krunic, ranked 65th in the world, will be playing in her first WTA final when the pair meet on Saturday.