Li Na of China had to battle from behind in each set on Wednesday to beat Russia's Maria Kirilenko 6-4, 7-6 (4) in the second round of the New Haven Open, the final WTA tournament before the US Open.
Serena Williams was seeded a lowly 28th for the Aug. 29-Sept. 11 US Open as tournament organisers opted to rigidly follow the current rankings rather than reward her for outstanding past performances.
Russia's Maria Sharapova beat Serbia's Jelena Jankovic 4-6 7-6 6-3 to win the Cincinnati Open on Sunday and install herself as one of the favourites for the US Open.
World number two Rafa Nadal scraped into the quarter-finals of the Cincinnati Open after beating fellow Spaniard Fernando Verdasco 7-6 6-7 7-6 in a fierce battle yesterday but his rivals all had comfortable paths into the last eight.
Reigning French Open champion Li Na and dual Grand Slam champion Lleyton Hewitt will play in the Hopman Cup in Perth in December, organizers said on Thursday.
Two-time U.S. Open champion Kim Clijsters is likely to skip the season's final Grand Slam event after the world No. 2 confirmed her pullout of next week's Cincinnati tournament on Thursday.
China's Peng Shuai entered the US hard court season with a career-high ranking and now holds hopes of some day matching the heroics of her trailblazing countrywoman, Li Na.
When Fran-cesca Schiavone of Italy kissed the women's singles trophy at Roland Garros last year, becoming the first Italian woman to win a Grand Slam title, Li Na, who was beaten by Schiavone in the fourth-round, said: "If she can do that, maybe I can do that too."