World number eight Li Na has reached the last 32 at Indian Wells for the first time since 2009, by defeating Galina Voskoboeva 3-6 6-3 6-3.
Li capitalised on a sloppy start from Voskoboeva and an early break gave the Chinese number one a 3-1 first-set lead.
The 27-year-old Kazakh then had an inspired 20-minute spell as her deep returns persistently found the baseline and she rattled off five consecutive games to take the first set.
The first five games of the second set went with serve before Li broke to 30 and then kept her opponent at arm's length with two authoritative service games and a break.
The final set was gruelling, with many of the games going to multiple deuce points. Li claimed an instant break in the first game but Voskoboeva responded to level the set at 2-2.
Li then regained the break in game six and, despite being pushed hard, she managed to hold on to her service games and progress.
Robert Summerscales
