Na Li posted a huge upset by defeating Venus Williams in a thrilling 3-set Quarterfinal match at the Australian Open. Li, seeded 16, was able to hold serve one more time in the 3rd set than 6th seeded Williams to take the match 2-6, 7-6, 7-5.
It was not a day to be serving. Both players struggled with serve, especially in the 3rd set. There were 9 breaks in 12 games in the 3rd set, with Li holding twice and Williams only once.
Williams started strong, taking the first set 6-2. Then Li gained a little more confidence and took the 2nd set in a tie-break. In the third set, it seemed both players were battling nerves, struggling to hold serve. Williams seemed to get very tentative toward the end of the set and Li won the set and the match on her 3rd match point.
Li and Williams played once before at the Olympics in China, with Li winning 7-5, 7-5.
Williams has not done well in 3-set matches at the Australian Open, losing 6 out of 7 matches that have gone three sets.
Li become only the 2nd Chinese woman to reach the Semifinals of the Australian Open. Her compatriot, Jie Zheng, won her way earlier into the Semifinal with a 6-1, 6-3 straight sets win over Maria Kirilenko in her Quarterfinal match.
