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Li Na survives Lucie Safarova scare

Li Na survives a scare against Lucie Safarova to book her place in the fourth round of the Australian Open.

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

Li Na of China celebrates winning her third round match against Lucie Safarova of the Czech Republic during day five of the 2014 Australian Open at Melbourne Park on January 17, 2014© Getty Images

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.

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Li Na celebrates her win over Petra Kvitova during their WTA Championships match on October 26, 2013
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