Li Na of China regrouped just in time to overcome the tough challenge provided by Russia’s Ekaterina Makarova in their US Open 2013 quarterfinal match on Tuesday Night. Li Na won the match against the 24th-seeded Russian 64 67(5) 62.
“I’m not so happy with the way I played today,” Li said after the match. “Today was the first time I was feeling so nervous. It started from the beginning of the match until the end of the match. But I was happy that at least I was fighting a lot on the court. Even if I wasn’t playing my best tennis, I was still fighting and I’m still in the tournament. I think that’s something even better than the last round.
“Even when I lost the second set, I still felt like, ‘Okay, it’s still one set all. You still have a chance. Let’s just try to go point by point and hang in there, and just stay out there on the court and fight.”
Li Na became the first Chinese player to reach the US Open semifinal.
“You know, I always try to be the first one!” Li said when informed about the achievement. “But of course it’s exciting. It’s my first time in the semis of the US Open. I was really proud of myself, because this is the last Grand Slam before the end of the year, and I was fighting a lot on the court and just trying my best out there.”
The Chinese tennis superstar will next face top-ranked and defending champion Serena Williams in the semifinals. Williams blasted past Spain’s Carla Suarez Navarro 6-0, 6-0.
