Li Na made an encouraging start in her bid to qualify for her first WTA Championships semifinals when she contained a courageous second set battle by Sara Errani, the sixth-seeded Italian, to win 6-3, 7-6 (5) on Wednesday.

The first Chinese player to win a Grand Slam attacked with flair and ambition with her flat hitting and dominated many periods of the match, though she needed to fight and focus harder to regain control after her level dropped early in the second set.

"I have a very good physio," Li said after the match, explaining her enduringly good court coverage. And it seemed Errani, who had considered withdrawing with an injury, must have had good treatment too.