^

Sports

Li, Kvitova set up China Open quarter, Nadal wins

The Philippine Star

BEIJING — Li Na kept alive local hopes of a first homegrown champion in the China Open when she reached the quarterfinals with a tough 7-5, 6-4 win over Sabine Lisicki of Germany on Wednesday.

Also, 2005 champion Rafael Nadal edged Philipp Kohlschreiber of Germany 6-4, 7-6 (3) to move into the third round.

Li broke Lisicki twice in each set, overcoming seven double faults and holding off six of eight break chances.

To equal her previous best efforts in Beijing, the semifinals in 2010 and 2012, Li will have to beat Petra Kvitova, against whom she has a 3-2 record.

Kvitova beat Sara Errani of Italy 6-4, 6-7 (3), 6-3 in a 2 1/2-hour third-round match which featured 19 breaks of serve.

Former champions Agnieszka Radwanska (2011) and Jelena Jankovic (2008) won their second-round matches, but two-time former winner Svetlana Kuznetsova lost to Andrea Petkovic of Germany 4-6, 6-4, 6-1.

Slovenian qualifier Polona Hercog ousted Ana Ivanovic 6-4, 6-4 and will play Radwanska for a spot in the last eight.

Nadal and Kohlschreiber traded five breaks of serve in their first set but couldn't break the other in the second and were separated only in the tiebreaker. Nadal won for the 11th time in 12 matches with the German.

Also, Fabio Fognini of Italy, enjoying his career-best year with two titles, routed Lleyton Hewitt 6-0, 6-2, and eighth-seeded John Isner also advanced.

vuukle comment

AGNIESZKA RADWANSKA

ANA IVANOVIC

ANDREA PETKOVIC OF GERMANY

CHINA OPEN

FABIO FOGNINI OF ITALY

JELENA JANKOVIC

JOHN ISNER

LI NA

LLEYTON HEWITT

NADAL AND KOHLSCHREIBER

PETRA KVITOVA

  • Latest
  • Trending
Latest
Latest
abtest
Are you sure you want to log out?
X
Login

Philstar.com is one of the most vibrant, opinionated, discerning communities of readers on cyberspace. With your meaningful insights, help shape the stories that can shape the country. Sign up now!

Get Updated:

Signup for the News Round now

FORGOT PASSWORD?
SIGN IN
or sign in with