Melbourne, Australia, Jan 16: French Open champion Li Na has advanced to the second round at the Australian Open with a 6-3, 6-1 win over Ksenia Pervak of Kazakhstan on Monday.
Li, who lost last year's final at Melbourne Park to Kim Clijsters, has had a strong start to the season, winning three matches at the Hopman Cup and reaching the Sydney International final.
On Monday, Li took a 5-3 lead in the opening set when she broke Pervak's service on her fifth break point, winning the game when the Kazakhstan player hit a two-handed backhand wide.
Li held in the next game to take the first set, then broke Pervak's serve again to open the second. She clinched the match with a volley backhand winner.