China’s Li Na, seeded 25th, is the only representative of Asia still alive in the singles draw of Roland Garros 2009 after the fourth day of play.

Li defeated Swiss Timea Bacsinszky 6-1 6-4 to advance to the third round, while compatriot Zheng Jie, seeded 15th, was upset by Grand Slam debutant Michelle Larcher de Brito of Portugal 6-4 6-3 in the second round. China’s No.31 seed Peng Shuai lost in the first round to Maria Jose Martinez Sanchez.

Japan's Ai Sugiyama, who extended her record for consecutive appearances in Grand Slam main draws to 60, and her compatriot Ayumi Morita both lost in the first round, along with India's Sania Mirza.

Defending champion Ana Ivanovic made a much more convincing score than in her first-round match and beat Thai Tamarine Tanasugarn 6-1 6-2.

Li is now the only Asian women’s tennis player left out of the seven who entered the tournament. (source: Reuters, photo via Sony Ericsson WTA Tour)

World number one and top seed Serena Williams has come to be only two victories away from a record sixth Sony Ericsson Open title after beating China’s Li Na 4-6 7-6(1) 6-2 to reach the semifinals.

The 27-year-old Li raced to a 5-0 lead in the first set, and even though Williams won the next four games, Li took the opening set. The second set was decided in a tiebreak which Williams won 7-1. The five-time Miami champion was quick to capitalize in the third set.

In the semifinals, Williams could face a 20th career meeting with sister Venus, if Venus beats Iveta Benesova in their quarterfinal.

The other semifinal will feature Svetlana Kuznetsova and Victoria Azarenka. (source: Sony Ericsson Open, photo: Ralf Reinecke)

Second seed Marion Bartoli of France won her 300th career singles match and first title this year, beating China's Li Na 6-4 6-3 in the final of the Monterrey Open in Mexico.

Bartoli’s biggest competition on paper was top seed Agnieszka Radwanska, but she was upset in the first round by unseeded Li.

The Monterrey Open title is Bartoli’s fourth career singles title. The 24-year-old won Auckland, Tokyo and Quebec City in 2006. (source: Sony Ericsson WTA Tour)

World number three Jelena Jankovic reached the quarterfinals of the Open GDF SUEZ with a 6-0 3-6 6-2 victory over China’s Li Na.

Due to a right knee injury, Li hadn’t played any tournaments in 2009 prior to this one in Paris, and after the first set it looked as if Jankovic would make short work of the Chinese world No.28.

The second set continued in the similar manner, with Jankovic dominating, but after a 3-1 lead for the Serb, Li won all the following games in the set.

Eventually, Jankovic managed to win the third set, finishing it with being two breaks up.

Fifth seed Alize Cornet, who defeated Daniela Hantuchova 1-6 6-4 6-2 earlier today, will be Jankovic’s opponent in the quarterfinals. (photo: Ralf Reinecke)

Serena Williams lost to China’s Li Na in the second round of the Porsche Tennis Grand Prix in Stuttgart, and consequently Jelena Jankovic will take over her No.1 ranking next week.

American Williams was defeated in an intense three-setter 0-6 6-1 6-4.

Williams only took over the top spot when she beat Jankovic in the final of the US Open three weeks ago. Since Justine Henin retired in May, as much as four players have held the No.1 ranking: Ana Ivanovic, Jelena Jankovic, Maria Sharapova and Serena Williams – and we know Henin’s coach Carlos Rodriguez is not pleased with such a state of women’s tennis.

The world No.30 Li also beat Serena’s sister Venus Williams to reach the semifinals at the Beijing Olympics. (photo via Yahoo)