Li and Świątek Set Up Wuhan Quarterfinal

Ann Li followed the biggest win of her career with a first WTA 1000 quarterfinal on Thursday, beating Janice Tjen 6-1, 7-6 (1) in Wuhan a day after she ended Aryna Sabalenka's run at the tournament. Her reward is a meeting with #7 Iga Świątek, who reached the last eight with a 6-1, 6-4 win over lucky loser Ashlyn Krueger.

Li's serve carried her through a second set that grew far harder than the first. She hit 11 aces, held all 10 of her service games and saved all six break points she faced, while breaking Tjen twice. After a lopsided opening set, the Indonesian raised her level and pushed Li to a tiebreak, where the American gave her almost nothing. "She definitely raised her level in the second and I had to do the same," Li said. "For me, I know in the tie break there's no room to relax at all."