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World No. 65 Ann Li scored her first top-10 win on Thursday after stunning seventh-ranked Anett Kontaveit at the Miami Masters. Li, a former world No. 44, delivered a great performance on Thursday night to defeat No. 3 seed Kontaveit 6-0 3-6 6-4 and progress into the Miami third round.
Li and Kontaveit were set to meet in the final of the 2021 Grampians Trophy in Melbourne but the final didn't take place due to scheduling issues. Li, 21, was glad she got a chance to play and beat Kontaveit. "We were supposed to play earlier last year but we didn't get to so I was really excited because she's been doing really well," Li said on court, per the WTA Tour website.
"It was kind of a test for myself."
Li didn't let Kontaveit claim a comeback win
Li broke Kontaveit in the opening game of the match and then saved two break points in the second game to take a 2-0 lead. Li then earned two more breaks as she led 5-0 after the opening five games of the match.
Kontaveit had a chance to get on the board in the sixth game but blew two consecutive break points as Li served out for the first set. After losing the first set, Kontaveit started serving much better in the second set and she earned her first break of the match in the sixth game to take a 4-2 lead.
The Estonian then held on to her serve the rest of the set to force a decider. Li was 2-0 down in the third set and facing two consecutive break points but she won the third game and then broke Kontaveit in the fourth and 10th game to overturn the deficit and clinch a three-set win.
"It's always tough when you win any set 6-0, especially since she's such a great competitor and fighter," Li said. "I knew she was going to pick up her level and I had to do the same."
