Li ousts Kvitova to book Stuttgart semifinal spot

BERLIN - World number five Li Na withstood a late comeback from Petra Kvitova to beat the fifth-seeded Czech 6-3 7-5 on Friday and set up a Stuttgart Grand Prix semifinal with American qualifier Bethanie Mattek-Sands.

The second seed from China was put under early pressure by a series of sizzling Kvitova groundstrokes but responded by rattling off five consecutive games to snatch the first set.

Li Na of China in action against Petra Kvitova of Czech Republic during the quarterfinal match at the WTA Porsche Tennis Grand Prix in Stuttgart, Germany, April 26, 2013. [Photo/CFP]

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