Tennis: Li Na makes history at Wimbledon

LONDON - Li Na created tennis history for China at Wimbledon today while the United States departed from the singles with its tail firmly between its legs.

Li, 24, overcame Czech 17-year-old Nicole Vaidisova 4-6 6-1 6-3 to become China's first grand slam singles quarter-finalist.

"I am proud of myself and I am very proud for my country as well," the 27th seed said after her shock victory gave tennis in Asia a major fillip.

Li, applauded by Chinese journalists as she went into her post-match news conference, said: "Women's tennis in China will be getting better and better."

Citing former French Open winner Michael Chang, an American of Chinese descent, as a great inspiration for her and all Asian tennis players, Li said she had her first glimpse of Wimbledon when watching the tournament on video.

Asked when China would celebrate its first grand slam victory, she said through an interpreter "It takes time gradually, step by step."

Li beat Russian French Open runner-up Svetlana Kuznetsova in the third round and she used her withering forehand to cow Vaidisova, who reached the last four at Roland Garros.

She plays Belgian second seed Kim Clijsters in the last eight. Clijsters outclassed Polish teenager Agnieszka Radwanska 6-2 6-2.

Before Wimbledon the best singles showing by a Chinese player was Zheng Jie's run to the French Open fourth round in 2004.

Shenay Perry's 6-2 6-0 defeat by Russian Elena Dementieva meant there would be no American man or woman in the quarter-finals of the singles for the first time since 1911.

"I was really nervous and I think it showed in my match," said Perry, the world number 62.

"I've never been in that situation before and I didn't handle it as well as I would have liked to."

Americans Venus Williams, Andre Agassi, Andy Roddick, James Blake and Mardy Fish all lost in the third round.

Amelie Mauresmo avenged her 2005 French Open defeat by Ana Ivanovic when she ousted the 18-year-old Serb 6-3 6-4 on court one. She will play Anastasia Myskina, one of three Russians through to the last eight.

French Open champion Justine Henin-Hardenne was an impressive 6-3 6-1 winner over Slovak Daniela Hantuchova and will face French qualifier Severine Bremond in the quarter-finals.

Bremond shocked 18th seed Ai Sugiyama of Japan 7-6 6-3 to reach her first grand slam quarterfinal.

Henin-Hardenne will complete her full set of grand slam titles if she wins the grasscourt event. She said:

"I'm very happy. Being in the quarters is good but I don't want to stop here."

Dementieva will play fellow Russian Maria Sharapova in her first Wimbledon quarter-final.

Sharapova, the 2004 champion, dropped her first set of the tournament in a tough 7-6 3-6 6-3 win over Italian Flavia Pennetta.

Fourth round: 7-Elena Dementieva (Russia) bt Shenay Perry (US) 6-2 6-0, 3-Justine Henin-Hardenne (Belgium) bt 15-Daniela Hantuchova (Slovakia) 6-3 6-1, Severine Bremond (France) bt 18-Ai Sugiyama (Japan) 7-6 (13-11) 6-3, 27-Li Na (China) bt 10-Nicole Vaidisova (Czech Republic) 4-6 6-1 6-3, 4-Maria Sharapova (Russia) bt 16-Flavia Pennetta (Italy) 7-6 (7-5) 3-6 6-3, 9-Anastasia Myskina (Russia) bt 26-Jelena Jankovic (Serbia) 6-4 7-6 (7-5), 2-Kim Clijsters (Belgium) bt Agnieszka Radwanska (Poland) 6-2 6-2, 1-Amelie Mauresmo (France) bt 19-Ana Ivanovic (Serbia) 6-3 6-4

- REUTERS