Mattek-Sands won seven consecutive games to take a 5-0 lead in the final set after the second rain delay of the match. She served out the victory with the sun shining and rain falling, and became the fourth U.S. woman to reach the third round.
There were moments, as recently as last year, when a body that would not stay healthy and on-court results prompted Bethanie Mattek-Sands to wonder whether it was simply time to call it a career after more than a decade as a professional tennis player.
The Spaniard survived an early scare Monday and successfully began his bid for an eighth title at Roland Garros by rallying past Daniel Brands of Germany, 4-6, 7-6 (4), 6-4, 6-3.
Li Na has pulled out of next week's Qatar Open because of the ankle injury she sustained in the Australia Open final.
Li Na has pulled out of next week's Qatar Open because of the ankle injury she sustained in the Australia Open final.
When Li Na saw all the Chinese flags and heard the cheers of "Jia You," or "Let's Go" in Mandarin, during her Australian Open final against Victoria Azarenka, she thought she might have been in Beijing.
Azarenka won her second consecutive Australian Open title, beating Li 4-6, 6-4, 6-3 in a dramatic final that contained a break for fireworks, two medical timeouts and a nasty fall to the court by Li.
Victoria Azarenka plans to celebrate with her rap star friend Redfoo after a dramatic Australian Open.
It was back in 2011 that Li Na remembers first feeling the benefits of being a big tennis star.
Murray beat Federer for the first time in a Grand Slam event to advance to the Australian Open final against top-ranked Novak Djokovic.
Victoria Azarenka had to endure some anxious moments before and after her win over American teenager Sloane Stephens. Li Na wasn't flustered at all in an easy victory over No. 2-ranked Maria Sharapova.
Victoria Azarenka will have 48 hours to calm her nerves, rest her body and move past a center-court controversy before she returns to defend her Australian Open title.
China's Li Na has overpowered second-seeded Maria Sharapova 6-2, 6-2 to advance to the Australian Open final and a chance for her second Grand Slam title.
The top seed stayed clothed after beating Tomas Berdych 6-1, 4-6, 6-1, 6-4 Tuesday to reach the semifinals in about half the time it took him to win his previous match against Stanislas Wawrinka, which prompted a shirt-ripping celebration.
French Open champion Li Na credits new coach Carlos Rodriguez with turning her tennis career around _ and saving her marriage.
When a reporter wanted to know if she'd been bothered by an illness or injury, Li replied: "Why do you ask me that? Because I lose the match?"
Bethanie Mattek-Sands joins cast of Americans third round of French Open →
"A little bit surprised ... today, the way she's hitting," said Li, who has bowed out in the first or second round at half of the eight major tournaments since winning her trophy in Paris.
Bethanie Mattek-Sands joins cast of Americans third round of French Open →
