Caroline Wozniacki eyes Melbourne revenge over Li Na

Caroline Wozniacki will get the chance to avenge her loss to Li Na at last year's Australian Open after ending Francesca Schiavone's brave run in Melbourne yesterday.

Wozniacki lost to the Chinese in the fourth round 12 months ago, but has set up a semi-final rematch this year thanks to a 3-6, 6-3, 6-3 defeat of Schiavone, for whom it was one match too far.

The Italian, who needed four hours and 44 minutes to squeeze past Svetlana Kuznetsova in the longest women's match in grand slam history in the previous round, ran out of gas after a fine start as world No 1 Wozniacki maintained her bid to land a maiden grand slam crown.

Li had a more straightforward passage, beating Andrea Petkovic 6-2, 6-4 in one hour and 20 minutes in the first match of the day on Rod Laver Arena.

Schiavone started well, taking the first set and moving a break up in the second before inevitably starting to tire. And Wozniacki was happy to take advantage, hitting back from 3-1 down to level it up and take it to a deciding set in which she always held the upper hand.

"It was very difficult," she said afterwards. "Francesca was playing well at the start.

"I just told myself to take one ball at a time and don't give up. If you get the chance, you need to take it now, otherwise it's going to be too late."

The Dane, who will retain the No 1 spot after reaching the semis, believes both her and ninth seed Li have improved since their last meeting.

"I lost to her here last year. She's a really good player and she hasn't lost a match this year yet. She won in Sydney and she is on a roll. I think Li has improved a lot, but I also believe I have. I am going to go in there, fight for every point, and just see what happens."

Li simply wore down Petkovic, who was unable to reproduce the blistering tennis she showed in thrashing Maria Sharapova in round four.

Both sets followed a similar pattern, Petkovic breaking early before Li found her range to claw it back.

The Chinese, who lost to Serena Williams here in the semi-finals last year, said: "I think I am playing to the same level but I am certainly happier on the court. I am having more communication with the team and everything is happy."