Radwanska continues hot start to 2013, wins 8th in a row to advance to Sydney final

Poland's Agnieszka Radwanska reaches out for a return shot in her semifinal match against China's Li Na at the Sydney International Tennis tournament in Sydney, Australia, Thursday, Jan. 10, 2013. (AP Photo/Rob Griffith) (The Associated Press)

China's Li Na plays a shot in her semifinal match against Poland's Agnieszka Radwanska at the Sydney International Tennis tournament in Sydney, Australia, Thursday, Jan. 10, 2013. (AP Photo/Rob Griffith) (The Associated Press)

Top-seeded Agnieszka Radwanska has advanced to the Sydney International final, running her 2013 winning streak to eight matches with a 6-3, 6-4 win Thursday over former French Open champion Li Na.

Radwanska, who lost last year's Wimbledon final to Serena Williams, won the Auckland WTA tournament last week and goes into next week's Australian Open as the fourth-seeded player.

The Pole will take on Dominika Cibulkova of Slovakia in Friday's final. Cibulkova beat second-seeded Angelique Kerber of Germany 6-2, 4-6, 6-3 Thursday.

In men's matches, unseeded Kevin Anderson of South Africa beat Denis Istomin 6-4, 6-3 and will play France's Julien Benneteau in a semifinal on Friday. Benneteau beat American qualifier Ryan Harrison 6-4, 6-2.