Li Na beats Sloane Stephens 2-1 at Madrid Open

China's Li Na returns the ball to Sloane Stephens of the United States during the women's singles third round at the Madrid Open tennis tournament in Madrid, capital of Spain, on May 8, 2014. (Xinhua/Xie Haining)

China's Li Na faced Sloane Stephens in the third round of the Madrid Open on Thursday. Reigning Australian Open champion Li was not at her best against the American talent, making over 40 unforced errors in the match, which almost cost her an early exit in Spain.

It could be a comfortable victory for Li, while Stephens would make enough trouble for the world number two.

After holding her own serve in the first game of the match, Li was struggling to find her rhythm on the court. The Chinese tennis star failed to turn chances into points and allowed her opponent to captalize in the long rally. Stephens, taking the point with a forehand smash. The American would cruise to a 6-2 first set victory.

But Li proved more experienced and found her form the rest of the way. Li, disovering new aggression in her game and looked to pressure the young American on the baseline. The Chinese, winning the second set 6-3 to level the match.

Li, completed back on track in the third, proved too tough for Stephens to handle. She would close out the set 6-2 and knocked out Stephens in three sets to make the quarter-finals.