LEAD: Li victory saves Wozniacki's number one ranking

Jan 12, 2012, 11:31 GMT

Sydney - Holder Li Na kept a clean match slate this season as the Chinese fourth seed beat Petra Kvitova 1-6, 7-5, 6-2 in a Sydney International semi-final that will keep Caroline Wozniacki on the top WTA ranking.

The Chinese become the first woman since Elena Dementieva in 2009 and 2010 to reach back-to-back finals at Olympic Park.

'I'm back,' said the winner, who went into a major slump for the rest of 2011 after claiming her historic French Open title last spring. 'I'm stronger in the body and the mind. I believe now that I can play well.'

Number two Kvitova's loss came less than 24 hours after top seed Wozniacki was put out by best friend Agnieszka Radwanska in their quarter-final.

The Li win meant that Wimbledon champion Kvitova cannot take over the number one spot, which she would have only been able to accomplish with a Sydney title.

Wozniacki was treated for a left wrist injury in that contest, but a scan Thursday show no major damage as the Dane headed for Melbourne and Monday's start of the Australian Open.

Li will aim for a second straight Sydney title as she faces third seed Victoria Azarenka, a winner over Radwanska 1-6, 6-3, 6-2.

'She played some amazing tennis,' the winner said of Radwanska. 'I had to adjust. I'm glad I overcame my little slump at the beginning. I kept fighting.'

2011 Australian Open finalist Li, now 7-0 in 2012, won the Sydney title a year ago and leads Azarenka 4-2.

Li said she needed to turn around her game to survive. 'She played unbelievable in the first set, flat and deep on everything,' said the 29-year-old. 'I had no chance to make a return.'

'After the set I spoke to the coach and he said if I didn't change my game I could head to the airport now. I managed to play better, believed in myself and got the win.'

Kvitova's form fell off after she dominated the first set with Li moving through into a match against either third seed Victoria Azarenka or Radwanska.

In the men's quarter-finals, top seed Juan Del Potro was hammered by 2010 champion Marcos Baghdatis, with the Cypriot taking it on a service winner 7-6 (9-7), 6-4 in an hour and three-quarters.

'This was some of my best tennis after playing a not-so-great match in the previous round,' said Baghdatis. 'I spoke with my coach and he told me just to go for it.'I played aggressive, it was great.'The smiling Cypriot credited his consistent Sydney form to 'family. My grandma lives here and her Lebanese food makes me feel good.'

Del Potro was unable to get past the attacking game of the 2006 Australian Open finalist, with Baghdatis firing a dozen aces.

Denis Istomin upset third seed Richard Gasquet 6-4, 7-6 (7-4) while Finland's Jarkko Nieminen beat American Bobby Reynolds 6-3, 6-3 in a battle of qualifiers.

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