ago.15.2008
(BEIJING, August 15) -- Li Na of China charged into the semifinals of the Women's Singles by ousting No. 7 seed Venus Williams of the United States 7-5, 7-5 at the Olympic Green Tennis Center on Thursday night.
Li pulled back from 4-1 down to steal the first set 7-5 from the Sydney 2000 gold medallist, who served nine double faults in the opening set and was kept guessing by Li's variety of shots.
Li retained her momentum in the second set, going 3-1 up and breaking again in the 11th game to sneak ahead 6-5. On Li's second match point, Williams put a forehand service return into the net.
The Chinese World No. 43 will face either World No. 2 Jelena Jankovic of Serbia or World No. 7 Dinara Safina of Russia in the semifinals.
Prior to Beijili Nang 2008, no Chinese player, man or woman, had ever won a match at an Olympic Tennis event.
Williams lost only hours after her younger sister, Serena, fell to Elena Dementieva of Russia 3-6, 6-4, 6-3.
This marks the second time this year that both Williams sisters fell in the same round on the same day at a big tournament. The two went out in the third round at the French Open.