BEIJING, Oct. 11 - China's top female tennis player Li Na made an early exit at the Kremlin Cup, a 1.34-million-US-dollar WAT Tier I event, in Moscow, Russia.
Li wasted three match points in her dramatic first round clash against home player Elena Vesnina on Tuesday.
Vesnina got off to a good start and won the first set, before Li climbed back to level the scores in the second set.
Li continued to play beautifully in the final decisive set. She was leading 5-0 when Vesnina roared back from behind to grab one of her best career victories.
The WTA website hailed the Russian as hero of the day after her miraculous 6-2, 1-6 and 7-6 win over Li Na.
Vesnina's compatriot, Maria Kirilenko, 2005 China Open champion, also fought a dramatic match but was not fortunate enough to come away a winner.
In her third straight first round exit at the Krimlin Cup, she fell to returning Moscow finalist Schiavone, 3-6, 7-5, 7-6, after a battle that stretched for more than 3 hours.