Former world number one Caroline Wozniacki issued a stark warning she was back to her best Wednesday as she ousted China’s former French Open champion Li Na to reach the Pan Pacific Open quarter-finals in Tokyo. Wozniacki ground out a 4-6, 6-3, 6-4 win to join a powerful last eight, where she will play defending champion Agnieszka Radwanska. Maria Sharapova, Samantha Stosur and world number one Victoria Azarenka are also through. Denmark’s Wozniacki won her first WTA title in more than a year last week in Seoul, and she was not to be denied despite going a set down against Li. Showing trademark grit, she toughed it out in the last set for her eighth straight win. “After the first set of my first match my energy level dropped, but since then I’ve been feeling great,” said the 2010 winner, who is currently ranked 11th.
Li Na eyes season-ending championships
TOKYO: The 2011 French Open champion Li Na set her sights on the season-ending WTA Championships after her third-round defeat to Caroline Wozniacki in the Pan Pacific Open in Tokyo on Wednesday. The championships will be played from October 23 in Istanbul and feature singles players ranked in the top eight. The Chinese Li, the first Asian to win a singles Grand Slam crown, is currently eight in the world. “I’m now number eight, so it’s very tough. Right now I don’t now (if she can take part in the championships). I think it will be decided after Beijing,” said the 30-year-old, who has struggled for form since making history last year. AFP