Seems Na Li’s tough period is over. After a terribly long injury lay off, China’s best-ranked tennis player made a huge success. At the Mondial Australian Women’s Hardcourts, her first tournament since the serious rib injury, she sent home top-seeded Nicole Vaidisova with a 6-3, 6-3 victory and reached the semifinals. Not to mention she had earlier disposed of seventh-seeded Sybille Bammer.
Nicole Vaidisova was not the only big-name player to fall on Thursday. Former world number one Amelie Mauresmo and defending champion Dinara Safina were also defeated. Mauresmo was beaten by fourth-seeded Patty Schnyder, with the Swiss winning 6-4, 6-4 after leading 5-0 in the first set, while Shahar Peer beat Dinara Safina 46 61 76(8).
Semifinal matches: Na Li vs. Patty Schnyder, Shahar Peer vs. Victoria Azarenka.
