Li Na and Petra Kvitova File Photos
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.
Li had to break Lisicki twice in each set, overcome seven double faults, and stave off six out of eight break chances to triumph.
Her previous best efforts in Beijing were the semifinals in 2010 and 2012. Next up will be 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 ½-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 was run down by Andrea Petkovic 4-6, 6-4, 6-1.
Polish qualifier Polana Hercog ousted Ana Ivanovic 6-4, 6-4 and will play Radwanska for a spot in the last eight.
In men’s action, Fabio Fognini of Italy blew away Lleyton Hewitt 6-0, 6-2, and eighth-seeded John Isner also won.