(Xinhua/Agencies)
Updated: 2008-02-14 09:36

Chinese Li Na became the first woman making the quarterfinals of the WTA Diamond tennis tournament in Antwerp on Wednesday.

The ninth-seeded Li, who won her second career title in Gold Coast, Australia last month following a six-month injury layoff, rallied from 4-1 down to top Dominika Cibulkova of Slovakia 6-4, 6-3 in the second round.

In the last eight, Li will face the winner between second seed Anna Chakvetadze and swede Sofia Arvidsson.

Australian Open semifinalist Daniela Hantuchova beat local teenager Yanina Wickmayer 6-4, 6-3 to reach the Diamond Games quarterfinals.

Wickmayer, the 18-year-old wild card, gave third-seeded Hantuchova a harder match than expected by saving 10 of 12 break points and hitting seven aces in the 91-minute match.

Fourth-seeded Patty Schnyder of Switzerland made it to the quarters for the sixth time in Antwerp after beating Ai Sugiyama of Japan 6-3, 6-4 for the first time in nine years.

On Thursday, top-seeded Justine Henin will play Bulgaria's Tsvetana Pironkova, and Russia's Anna Chakvetadze, who won the Open Gaz de France on Sunday, plays Sweden's Sofia Arvidsson.