Melbourne, Jan 17 (IANS): Two-time finalist Li Na saved a match point before clawing back to record a three-set victory over Czech Lucie Safarova in the third round of the Australian Open here Friday.
The Chinese fourth seed, a finalist in 2011 and last year, won 1-6, 7-6 (2), 6-3 in two and a half hours to set up a clash with Russian 22nd seed Ekaterina Makarova for a place in the quarterfinals, reports Xinhua.
Li served inconsistently and failed to take advantage of key break-point chances for much of the first two sets.
But she dominated the tie-breaker, then broke the 24th-seeded Safarova in the eighth game of the deciding set before serving out.
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“In the beginning she played very nice, very good and it was tough to find any rhythm,” Li said of her opponent.
“I’m happy I was able to fight and win the match. I just tried to play at the baseline and move the ball around the court.”
