China's Li, the world number two and top seed in the $12 million combined ATP and WTA tournament, defeated Canada's Wozniak 6-1, 6-4 yesterday to secure her quarter-final berth.
She steamed through the opening set in 32 minutes, but needed another hour to finally wrap up the second set against a player whose ranking has tumbled to 241st as she was sidelined by injury.
All 11 of Li's match points came in the final game, with two break points for Wozniak mixed in.
"The funny thing is, beginning of the game I was feeling tight, nervous, and then I was feeling like what's going on? Why can't I finish the match?
"But she never gave up, she tried to defend every point. Yeah, it was a little bit tedious in the last game."
Four of Li's nine double faults came in the final game, and she lost her cool briefly when a successful challenge of a line call brought not a point awarded -- on her third match point -- but a replay of the point.
"I was like, 'Replay? What are you talking about?'"
- 'I can still smile' -
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Li lost the replayed point and the game went to the first of 10 deuces.
"At least I'm still in the tournament," Li said. "I still can smile.