STUTTGART, Germany (AFP) –
China’s Li Na returns the ball to Poland’s Agnieszka Radwanska during their quarter-final match at the WTA Porsche Tennis Grand Prix in Stuttgart. Li was first quarter-final casualty of the WTA clay-court tournament.
French Open champion Li Na of China was the first quarter-final casualty of Stuttgart’s WTA claycourt tournament on Friday following her three-sets defeat to Agnieszka Radwanska.
Li was beaten 3-6, 6-2, 6-3 by the Polish fourth-seed, who will play either world number one Victoria Azarenka or wildcard Mona Barthel who meet later Friday.
After dominating the first set, Li struggled to cope as Radwanska raised her game with a series of drop shots and strong returns in the second before carrying her improved form into the third.
“I was more aggressive in the first set, but things turned after I broke her serve in the second,” said 30-year-old eighth-seed Li.
“I didn’t get many first serves in after that and it left me pretty down, I was really pissed off at myself walking off court.
“At least, I know I can still slide out there, I haven’t played badly in my three games this week, so at least I know I can continue on the right path.”
With Roland Garros to start on May 27, Radwanska said she is enjoying finding her feet on clay courts as she bids to win her first Grand Slam title having claimed nine wins on the WTA tour.
“I am enjoying my tennis and just trying everything at the moment, which probably worked against me in the first set” said the 23-year-old, ranked fourth in the world and who claimed her ninth tour win at Miami recently.
“I was more calm in the second set and I am just happy I could turn things around. I just hope this is my year, so I can take the next step.”
All of Radwanska’s four losses this year have come at the hands of Azarenka and having also reached the semi-finals here last year, the Polish number one said it takes a special effort to beat the world number one.
“You have to be at the top of your game and play some great tennis to beat her,” admitted Radwanska.
In Friday’s other last four ties, world number two Maria Sharapova takes on fifth-seed and US Open winner Samantha Stosur while Wimbledon champion Petra Kvitova faces Germany’s Angelique Kerber.
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