China's Li Na reached the fourth round of the US Open on Friday after sweeping past Maria Kirilenko of Russia 6-4, 6-2.

The 18th seed will play Italy's Francesca Schiavone for a place in the quarterfinals, which would be Li's best performance at Flushing Meadows, having exited in the fourth round in both 2006 and 2008.

Li, 27, missed much of 2008 with an injury to her right knee. She is currently ranked 19th in the world.

(Xinhua News Agency September 5, 2009)