• Rome Masters

Errani upsets Li to reach Rome semi-finals

ESPN staff
May 16, 2014
Sara Errani will face Jelena Jankovic in the last four © Getty Images
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Sara Errani took advantage of a supportive crowd to beat second seed Li Na 6-3 4-6 6-2 on Friday and reach the Rome Masters semi-finals for the second consecutive year.

Errani is attempting to become the first Italian woman to win the tournament since Raffaella Reggi took the title 29 years ago in Taranto.

Li was unusually inconsistent, committing 52 unforced errors to Errani's 21, and appeared rattled by a close call from the chair umpire early in the third set.

After the match, Li told reporters that she had vomited less than 20 minutes before stepping onto the court.

"Before I came to the court I already threw up," she said. "I don't know if it's because of the pasta or because the allergies made me sick because everywhere I've been sneezing [this week]. It's never stopped. I really have no idea the reason why I throw up."

When asked how the illness affected her during the match, Li added: "The feeling is like after you're drunk. You come to the court and you react to the ball always late. You cannot really focus and stay there."

"Maybe I'm sick of pasta," she joked. "The Chinese stomach is a little bit different."

Errani celebrated her victory by waving her arms to incite the crowd. Her semi-final opponent will be 2007 and 2008 Rome champion Jelena Jankovic after she defeated Agnieszka Radwanska 6-4 6-4.

Ana Ivanovic, who ended her seven-game losing streak against Maria Sharapova on Thursday, also booked her spot in the last four with a 6-4 3-6 6-4 win over Carla Suarez-Navarro.

© ESPN Sports Media Ltd
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