Li Na survives Lucie Safarova scare

Fourth seed Li Na has come from a set down to beat Lucie Safarova in the third round of the Australian Open.

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The 26-year-old Czech, ranked 26 in the world, breezed into a one-set lead by winning the first 6-1 inside half-an-hour.

She then broke decisively at 4-3 and had match point on serve, but could not close it out as last year's finalist battled to keep her hopes of a second Grand Slam alive.

After taking it to a tie-breaker, Li did not give Safarova a sniff as she won through 7-2 to level the match at one set apiece.

The 2011 French Open champion went on to take the third set 6-3 and will play 22nd seed Ekaterina Makarova for a place in the quarter-finals.