Wozniacki Feels Li Na's Beijing Pain

Caroline Wozniacki may not have won a Grand Slam, but the top seed at the China Open says she knows what Roland Garros winner Li Na is going through after a humiliating first-round exit in Beijing.

Home idol Li was bundled out in straight sets at the weekend by qualifier Monica Niculescu of Romania, earning the wrath of China's tennis fans.

With constant carping at her lack of a major title despite holding WTA number-one honors for the last year, Dane Wozniacki can understand what her Chinese rival must be facing.

"I think it's not pressure, it's just tough," Wozniacki said on Monday after advancing in a battle 3-6, 6-0, 7-5 over Czech Lucie Hradecka. "There are so many girls out there playing great tennis at the moment.

"They always want to play their best tennis against you because they know that they have to beat you.

"They have nothing to lose, so it's kind of being a target. Everyone is aiming to win against you. It's never easy."

Li's breakthrough earlier this year at the French Open -- where she became the first Chinese to win a singles Grand Slam -- has made the 29-year-old "huge" at home, Wozniacki said.

But Li's form has dipped spectacularly since Paris, and it hit a new low on Sunday in Beijing, to the horror of the vocal home support and hundreds of millions of netizens, who gave her a rough time on Internet message boards.

"I'm sure when she looks back on the season she's very proud and very happy. I don't think she's looking at the Internet too much and reading about herself -- at least I don't," said Wozniacki, 21.

"If you say Li Na, everyone will know who she is. She won a Grand Slam this year and was in a Grand Slam final (Australian Open). It's been an amazing season for her.

"The added sponsorship, it's just a plus. It's nice for her to know that once she stops playing tennis she's set, she can do what she wants."