<p>Fifth seed Li Na of China beat Russian Ekaterina Makarova 6-4, 6-7 (7-5), 6-2 to become the first Chinese player to reach US Open semi-finals.<br /><br /></p>.<p>"I always try to be the first one," said Li after the match Tuesday. "Of course, the first time in US Open semis, it's exciting. I am really proud of myself."<br /><br />By advancing into the semifinals, Li refreshed her personal US Open record, reports Xinhua.<br /><br />The world number six is enjoying one of the best seasons in her career, making quarter-finals in three of the four Grand Slams, the first time for the 31-year-old. She has also reached at least the semi-final stage for three straight WTA tournaments including in Toronto and Cincinnati.<br /><br />"There were some ups and downs in my previous seasons, and this year I have more consistency," said Li.<br /><br />Li, well known for her hot temper among Chinese fans, moved in Tuesday's match without losing a single set. She had previously played Makarova for three times, winning all of them.<br /><br />Li held her serve to level the first set until 3-3, and managed to break in the seventh game thanks to a couple of unforced errors from Makarova. Neither player was able to break in the remainder of the set, ensuring Li takes the lead in the match.<br /><br />Both players suffered from ups and downs in the second set. They finished with six breaks (three for each) to enter the tiebreaker. Li was leading 3-0 in the tiebreak, but the double fault disturbed her pace. Makarova took advantage to take the tiebreak 7-5.<br /><br />The final set stood in favour of Li as the top Chinese singles player won four straight games after 2-2 to end the match.<br /><br />"I was feeling so nervous, from the beginning of the match until the end of the match," said Li.<br /><br />Li will next face world number one Serena Williams, who won 12 consecutive games to beat Spaniard Suarez Navarro 6-0, 6-0.<br /><br />"If you only think about your opponent, of course, you already lose the match before you step onto the court," said Li.<br /><br />In another women's singles quarterfinal, the second seed Victoria Azarenka needed three sets to beat Ana Ivanovic 4-6, 6-3, 6-4.<br /><br />Former world number one Lleyton Hewitt lost 6-3, 3-6, 6-7 (7-3), 6-4, 7-5 to Russian Mikhail Youzhny in a round of 16 match, which lasted 3 hours 58 minutes.<br /><br />Hewitt, who outclassed sixth seed Juan Martin Del Potro in an even longer five-set thriller in the second round, was favoured to win again when the fifth set went to 5-5, but Youzhny broke the Australian before eventually winning on his second match point.<br /><br />Youzhny will play world number one Novak Djokovic, who eliminated Marcel Granollers 6-3, 6-0, 6-0. Third seed Andy Murray came back from one set down to beat Denis Istomin 6-7, 6-1, 6-4, 6-4, to set up a quarter-final against ninth seed Stanislas Wawrinka, who downed number five seed Thomas Berdych 3-6, 6-1, 7-6, 6-2.</p>
<p>Fifth seed Li Na of China beat Russian Ekaterina Makarova 6-4, 6-7 (7-5), 6-2 to become the first Chinese player to reach US Open semi-finals.<br /><br /></p>.<p>"I always try to be the first one," said Li after the match Tuesday. "Of course, the first time in US Open semis, it's exciting. I am really proud of myself."<br /><br />By advancing into the semifinals, Li refreshed her personal US Open record, reports Xinhua.<br /><br />The world number six is enjoying one of the best seasons in her career, making quarter-finals in three of the four Grand Slams, the first time for the 31-year-old. She has also reached at least the semi-final stage for three straight WTA tournaments including in Toronto and Cincinnati.<br /><br />"There were some ups and downs in my previous seasons, and this year I have more consistency," said Li.<br /><br />Li, well known for her hot temper among Chinese fans, moved in Tuesday's match without losing a single set. She had previously played Makarova for three times, winning all of them.<br /><br />Li held her serve to level the first set until 3-3, and managed to break in the seventh game thanks to a couple of unforced errors from Makarova. Neither player was able to break in the remainder of the set, ensuring Li takes the lead in the match.<br /><br />Both players suffered from ups and downs in the second set. They finished with six breaks (three for each) to enter the tiebreaker. Li was leading 3-0 in the tiebreak, but the double fault disturbed her pace. Makarova took advantage to take the tiebreak 7-5.<br /><br />The final set stood in favour of Li as the top Chinese singles player won four straight games after 2-2 to end the match.<br /><br />"I was feeling so nervous, from the beginning of the match until the end of the match," said Li.<br /><br />Li will next face world number one Serena Williams, who won 12 consecutive games to beat Spaniard Suarez Navarro 6-0, 6-0.<br /><br />"If you only think about your opponent, of course, you already lose the match before you step onto the court," said Li.<br /><br />In another women's singles quarterfinal, the second seed Victoria Azarenka needed three sets to beat Ana Ivanovic 4-6, 6-3, 6-4.<br /><br />Former world number one Lleyton Hewitt lost 6-3, 3-6, 6-7 (7-3), 6-4, 7-5 to Russian Mikhail Youzhny in a round of 16 match, which lasted 3 hours 58 minutes.<br /><br />Hewitt, who outclassed sixth seed Juan Martin Del Potro in an even longer five-set thriller in the second round, was favoured to win again when the fifth set went to 5-5, but Youzhny broke the Australian before eventually winning on his second match point.<br /><br />Youzhny will play world number one Novak Djokovic, who eliminated Marcel Granollers 6-3, 6-0, 6-0. Third seed Andy Murray came back from one set down to beat Denis Istomin 6-7, 6-1, 6-4, 6-4, to set up a quarter-final against ninth seed Stanislas Wawrinka, who downed number five seed Thomas Berdych 3-6, 6-1, 7-6, 6-2.</p>