Li advances comfortably to Australian Open last eight

Fourth seed Li Na breathed easy, as she advanced to the Australian Open quarter-finals on Sunday. Two-time Open finalist Li battered Russian Ekaterina Makarova 6-2 6-0 - the second set a complete obliteration from the opening point. Makarova started well enough, holding her opening service game, before opening up a 0-30 advantage in the second game. But Li took hold of the contest thereafter, breaking to take the lead in Makarova's next service game, before taking out the set in 35 minutes. The Chinese woman crunched 18 winner's to lefty Makarova's four for the contest, while the plucky 22nd seed could then only manage 10 points in the second set. Li will face Italian 28th seed Flavia Pennetta for a spot in the semi-finals on Tuesday, and she admitted that some strong words from her coach had fired her up to claim victory. "Yesterday I did a lot of practice because I really made (coach) Carlos (Rodriguez) sad two days ago for the match (against Lucie Safarova),'' Li said. "Normally every match we will talk after the match, but you can see his face - he was really unhappy. "So I tried a lot yesterday and also today. But at least today I think I made him a little bit happier.''