Media criticism nearly drove Li to retirement
Credit: Reuters/Jason Reed
1 of 3. Li Na of China celebrates defeating Belinda Bencic of Switzerland in their women's singles match at the Australian Open 2014 tennis tournament in Melbourne January 15, 2014.
Swiss Bencic, who knocked out Japan's Kimiko Date-Krumm, the oldest woman in the draw in the first round, lost seven straight games before steadying to surprise the Chinese fourth seed with her tenacity in a tense second set played out in stifling heat at Rod Laver Arena.
Taken deep into the deciding tiebreak, Li sealed the match by crunching a backhand winner down the line.
Li will next face qualifier Lucie Hradecka or another Czech in 26th seed Lucie Safarova.
(Reporting by Ian Ransom; Editing by Patrick Johnston)
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