Shortly after her sister Serena lost to Elena Dementieva, seventh seed Venus Williams was beaten by home favorite Li Na 7-5 7-5 in the quarterfinals of the 2008 Olympics in Beijing.

"Venus was the best player in the world, she has just won Wimbledon," said Li, the first Chinese player to enter the top 20 in the world rankings. "She has big serves that I can't receive but I told myself to calm down and play my best."

"Wow! You can't see this kind of crowd anywhere else. It helped me and pushed me a lot. This is a present I give to the Beijing Olympic Games but I have no time to celebrate. I have more matches to go."

In the semifinals world No.42 Li Na will face the winner of the match between Jelena Jankovic and Dinara Safina. The other semifinal is set and includes Russians Elena Dementieva and Vera Zvonareva. (source: Reuters, photo: Getty Images)

China’s highest-ranked player, world No.23 Na Li, missed Sydney, Dubai and Indian Wells because of a right knee injury, and now has withdrawn from the Sony Ericsson Open in Miami.

It’s a pity Li is injured and misses so many important tournaments again (she was sidelined by a serious rib injury for six months in 2007).

Li won the Gold Coast title on her return in 2008, reached the third round at the Australian Open, and made back-to-back semifinals at Antwerp and Doha. If only she could avoid injuries she would make it to the Top 10, or at least Top 15. Her highest career singles ranking was No.16. (via Women Who Serve, photo: Getty Images)

Fifth seed Anna Chakvetadze lost 7-6(7) 6-4 in the second round of the $2.5 million Qatar Total Open to China's world No.29 Na Li.

This is Chakvetadze's second consecutive early exit from a tournament since winning the Open Gaz the France earlier this month. Chakvetadze was upset in the second round of the last week’s Proximus Diamond Games in Antwerp when she lost to Sweden’s Sofia Arvidsson. Read more »

Amelie Mauresmo and Na Li have withdrawn from the Medibank International, the last major tuneup event before the Australian Open.

Mauresmo has re-injured her left thigh, while Li has a right knee injury.

Read more »

China’s Na Li couldn’t have started her comeback in a better way. The 25-year-old won the Mondial Australian Women's Hardcourts with a 4-6 6-3 6-4 triumph over Victoria Azarenka of Belarus.

Li was sidelined by serious rib injury for six months, but she has returned to the winner’s circle with fierce determination and big strength. Read more »