Li Na eyes WTA Championships after defeat

TOKYO (AFP) –

Li Na of China hits a return against Caroline Wozniacki of Denmark during their women’s singles third round match at the Pan Pacific Open tennis tournament in Tokyo on September 26, 2012. Wozniacki won 4-6, 6-3, 6-4.

The 2011 French Open champion Li Na set her sights on the season-ending WTA Championships after her third-round defeat to Caroline Wozniacki in the Pan Pacific Open in Tokyo on Wednesday.

The championships will be played from October 23 in Istanbul and feature singles players ranked in the top eight. The Chinese Li, the first Asian to win a singles Grand Slam crown, is currently eight in the world.

“I’m now number eight, so it’s very tough. Right now I don’t now (if she can take part in the championships). I think it will be decided after Beijing,” said the 30-year-old, who has struggled for form since making history last year.

“I wish I can be in the championships, but I lost today, so the only chance is that I have to do well next week in Beijing,” she added.

Caroline Wozniacki of Denmark hits a return against Li Na of China during their women’s singles third round match at the Pan Pacific Open tennis tournament in Tokyo on September 26, 2012. Wozniacki won 4-6, 6-3, 6-4.

The China Open, in Beijing, is next week and provides another chance for Li to boost her rankings points. Samantha Stosur and Marion Bartoli, ranked ninth and 10th respectively, are also in with a shout of going to Istanbul.

Li, the seventh seed, went down to former world number one Wozniacki 6-4, 3-6, 4-6.

Li was at 3-3 in the final set, but she hit a double-fault on a break point in the following game and was never able to reduce the deficit.

“It was a tough match, but I still feel that I had a chance to win the match. It’s very tough to play against Caroline,” said Li.