Little-known Chinese player Li Na gave US Open champion Svetlana Kuznetsova a run for her money at the China Open on Thursday before the Russian emerged victorious after three sets.
Second seed Kuznetsova's 6-3 6-7 7-6 win over the world number 193 thrust her into the $585,000 tournament's quarter-finals where she will face Argentina's Gisela Dulko.
After an easy first set, the Russian took the second set to 5-3 and the match appeared to be over.
But Li clawed her way back, taking the next two games to level at 5-5. She then tied it up again at 6-6 after a spectacular game that went to deuce five times and during which Kuznetsova squandered three match points.
Li won the tiebreak 8-6 to roaring cheers from the home crowd.
Li Na
The Chinese took a 5-3 lead in the third set but Kuznetsova recovered and won the tiebreak 7-3.
"I was feeling like I was playing (against a player from the) top five in the world," Kuznetsova told reporters after the match.
"I am so happy that I won because it was one of the toughest matches I've played all year. She just played unbelievable."
Asked about her performance, a drained Li said she gave herself a 95 out of 100 but added she did not think Kuznetsova was playing her best.
Throughout the match, Li's fans yelled out encouragement, often in the middle of points or just before serves. The crowd also broke with etiquette by clapping after unforced errors and double faults.
"They were a little bit too warm," Li said. "(It had) somewhat of a negative effect."
Kuznetsova was more direct.
"I like very much China, and the people are very nice, but today on the court it wasn't that much," she said.
The winner of the Kuznetsova-Dulko match will face either Jelena Jankovic of Serbia & Montenegro or Wimbledon champion Maria Sharapova of Russia.
Also on Thursday fourth seed Vera Zvonareva of Russia beat Emmanuelle Gagliardi of Switzerland 6-2 6-3 and seventh seed Jankovic beat Vera Douchevina 6-1 6-3.
(Xinhua News Agency September 24, 2004)
