Li Na of China reacts during the women`s singles quarterfinal match against Ekaterina Makarova of Russia at the 2013 US Open tennis championships in New York, the United States, on Sept. 3, 2013. Li Na won 2-1 to enter the semifinals. (Xinhua/Wang Lei)

>The fifth seed owed her historic victory to a team of talent after beating Ekaterina Makarova 6-4, 6-7 (7-5), 6-2 on Tuesday to become China`s first semifinalist in the U.S. Open.

Li`s team includes her husband Jiang Shan, former coach and sparring partner who is often given a dressing down when the player is in a bad mood, fitness trainer Alex Stober and coach Carlos Rodriguez.

Li credits Rodriguez with raising her game and saving her marriage.

"Carlos is a savior and he saved my marriage," Li said. "I don`t know how things go for other women, but for me it`s very difficult to find a balance between husband and coach.

"When Jiang Shan was coach, he was training me so hard, I would say, `You`re my husband. Why are you pushing me so hard?`"

Li admitted she didn`t listen to her husband when he was coaching.

"When my husband was coach, I never listened. I just say, `alright, pass, next one."

"Now when my husband wants to say something to me, he will say, `this is what Carlos wants me to tell you.` I say, `OK. I`ll listen.`"

The world number six player is enjoying one of the best seasons in her career, reaching quarter-finals at three of the four Grand Slams, which was the first time for the 31-year-old player.

"There were some ups and downs in my previous seasons, and this year there was a lot more consistency," said Li.

Li moved in the Tuesday`s match without losing a set. She had previously played against Makarova for three times, winning all of them.

Tuesday`s meeting was no difference from the last three.

Li held her service games to level the first set 3-3, and managed to break in the seventh game thanks to a couple of unforced errors from the Russian. Neither player was able to break in the rest of the set, which ended 6-4 in favor of Li.

Both players suffered from shaky shots in the second set. They finished six breaks in the set (three for each) to enter the tiebreak. Li was leading 3-0 in the tiebreak, but the double fault disturbed her pace and Makarova took chance to take the tiebreak 7-5.

The final set went to Li`s way. The top Chinese player won four straight games after 2-2 to end the deciding set 6-2.

"I`m not so happy," said Li about her match. "Today`s first time I was feeling so nervous, from the beginning to the end."

"But I was happy because at least I was fighting a lot on the court, even I didn`t play best of tennis, but I still fight and (am) still in the tournament."

Li will take on world number one Serena Williams of the United States in the semifinal, who routed Spain`s Carla Suarez Navarro 6-0, 6-0.

"If you only think about what opponent is doing, of course you already lose the match before you come to the court," said Li.