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Wozniacki rues missed chances after Li defeat

Caroline Wozniacki’s dramatic rise through women’s tennis was halted on Monday when Chinese 16th seed Li Na dumped her out of the fourth round of the Australian Open 6-4 6-3.

The 19-year-old Dane, who stormed into the world’s top five on the back of three titles and a U.S. Open final last year, had declared herself free of the big-match nerves that plague young players after thrashing Israel’s Shahar Peer in the third round.

Against hard-hitting Li, however, the bravado disappeared all too quickly when challenged in the first set, and remained absent when the Chinese offered a number of opportunities to level in the second.

“I had my chances especially in the first set leading. I had my chance (to go to) 5-2 and didn’t take it,” a gloomy Wozniacki, who advanced to the fourth round without conceding a set, told reporters.

“I tried to hang in there but it just didn’t go my way today.”

The loss was her second in two weeks to the dangerous Li, who has proved her giant-killing credentials with wins over three top-10 players last year.

“Against her you need to just play on your highest level the whole match through and keep concentrated and keep a lot of balls in play,” Wozniacki said.

The Dane played in some discomfort and had her leg strapped by a trainer while trailing 3-1 in the second, but said it “didn’t affect the score at the end.”

Having enjoyed the packed crowds of a grand slam centre court far quicker than most players her age, Wozniacki now faces a lonelier, more introspective spell on the practice court.

“I need to go back and work and go back stronger,” she said.

“There’s a long way to go and a long year ahead of me and now I’m gonna practice and work even harder and come back stronger.”