Li Na marked the best result so far for a Chinese tennis player at the U.S. Open here Sunday when the 18th seed beat Italian Francesca Schiavone in the fourth round.
The 6-2, 6-3 victory set up a quarterfinal encoutner for Li with the 2005 champion Kim Clijsters of Belgium at the National Tennis Center on Monday.
Li, who reached the quarters of Wimbledon in 2006, said she dreamed of becoming the first Chinese to win a grand slam singles title after Sunday's win in Louis Armstrong Stadium.
"This was my dream," said the 27-year-old Li. "Four rounds already, it's a half-tournament. I hope I can win another three matches. I know it's tough."
In her previous U.S. Open campaigns, Li twice got as far as the fourth round.
New mum Clijsters advanced with a 6-0 0-6 6-4 victory over third seed and twice champion Venus Williams. The 26-year-old Belgian had missed two years of competition to start a family before her comeback play here.
In the other women's fourth round encounters, second seed Serena Williams won a 6-2, 6-0 annihilation of Daniela Hantuchova, while Flavia Pennetta of Italy upset 7th-seeded Russian Vera Zvonareva 3-6, 7-6(6), 6-0.
On the men's part, Rafael Nadal overcame a abdominal muscle strain to win 7-5, 6-4, 6-4 over 32nd-ranked countryman Nicolas Almagro after receiving a treatment during the third set and advance to the fourth round with no surprise.
Also staying alive on the court was second seed Andy Murray, along with sixth seed Juan Martin del Potro of Argentina, French seventh seed Jo-Wilfred Tsonga, Juan Carlos Ferrero of Spain and Chile's Fernando Gonzalez.
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Li Na of China celebrates her victory over Francesca Schiavone of Italy at women's singles fourth round match of the U.S. Open tennis tournament in New York, the U.S., Sept. 6, 2009. Li won the match 2-0. [Xinhua/Shen Hong]
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