Li Na wins Gold Coast tournament in return from rib injury

GOLD COAST, Australia -- China's Li Na won the Australian women's hardcourt tennis championship following a six-month layoff because of a rib injury, beating Victoria Azarenka 4-6, 6-3, 6-4 on Saturday.

It was the 25-year-old Li's second WTA Tour title, adding to her 2004 victory in Guangzhou. She last played in Birmingham, England, in June.

Li beat top-seeded Nicole Vaidisova in the quarterfinals and fourth-seeded Patty Schnyder in the semifinals.

Azarenka, from Belarus, needed treatment for a right upper-thigh injury when leading 4-3 in the first set. She called a medical timeout and returned with her leg heavily strapped, but it didn't appear to affect her movement.

In the deciding set at 4-4, Li broke Azarenka's service in the ninth game, hitting a stinging backhand on break point that Azarenka couldn't reach. Li then held service in the next game, winning on her first match point when Azarenka hit a forehand long.

The tournament will shift next year to Brisbane and be combined with the men's hardcourt tournament being played for the final time this year at Adelaide.