Li Na downs Petra Kvitova

(AP)

Sixth seed Li Na won six games in a row to reach the French Open quarter-finals for the first time in her career this afternoon with a 2-6 6-1 6-3 victory over Petra Kvitova.

The Chinese player, beaten by Kim Clijsters in the final of the Australian Open in January, was overpowered by her Czech opponent in the first set but turned things around in the second.

She moved Kvitova, who could be a big danger at Wimbledon, around the court extremely well and used her superb accuracy to great effect.

The Czech ninth seed looked like she had wrested back control of the match when she won the opening three games of the decider but Li dug deep and clinched victory when Kvitova fired a backhand wide.