Li quashes Stephens threat to reach quarters
0 Comment(s)
Print
E-mail China.org.cn, May 9, 2014
|
|
|
Li Na returns the ball to American Sloane Stephens during their third-round match at the Madrid Open yesterday. |
Li Na recovered from a slow start to progress to the quarter-finals of the Madrid Open with a 2-6 6-3 6-2 win over Sloane Stephens.
Battling a toe problem, the second-ranked Li produced a string of unforced errors but still managed to secure the win after a two-hour tussle.
The Australian Open champion had no answer to Stephens's power in the opener as she dropped her first set of the week.
However, she responded well as one break of serve was enough to take the match into a third set and the Chinese star quickly took control of the decider as she raced into a 4-0 lead before comfortably seeing out the match.
Awaiting Li in the quarterfinals is last year's finalist Maria Sharapova, who moved into the last eight with a 6-4 6-3 win over Australian Samantha Stosur.
Last year's winner and top seed Serena Williams also cruised through to the last eight with a 6-2 6-3 win against Carla Suarez Navarro.
In the men's draw, a lacklustre Andy Murray suffered a third-round exit at Madrid Open after a comprehensive straight sets defeat.
The Wimbledon champion lost to 46th-ranked Santiago Giraldo 6-3, 6-2. Murray's play was erratic throughout the match against the Colombian qualifier, who earned his first career victory against a top-10 player in 20 attempts.
World No. 1 Rafael Nadal remained on course to retain his title with a comfortable 6-1, 6-4 win over Finland's Jarkko Nieminen.
Japan's Kei Nishikori, seeded No. 10, caused a minor upset by edging eighth seed Milos Raonic of Canada 7-6 (5), 7-6 (5).
Go to Forum >>0 Comment(s)