China's Li Na was forced into a dogfight in the heat before overcoming dogged American Christina McHale 7-6, 7-5 to reach the second round of the Sydney International on Monday.
Adjusting to the heat on Monday, coupled with the long flight from China, the 2011 Australian Open runner-up said she had found the match against McHale mentally tough. "Yes, very tough because in China it was like five, six degree, but here it's over 30," said the 30-year-old, who was playing an opponent 10 years younger.
"I was playing in China, so I have to (get) used to the heat," Li said of her decision to play Sydney and Shenzhen as she prepared for the Australian Open. "I couldn't come straightaway to Melbourne. I needed some matches in the heat conditions, otherwise I don't know what I can do in Melbourne."
Fourth seed Li only arrived in Australia a day earlier, having beaten Klara Zakopalova to win the Shenzhen title, where the temperature outside hovered just above freezing.
The former French Open champion, runner-up in Sydney last year and winner in 2011, took almost two hours to dispatch her the 33rd-ranked opponent in 30-degree temperatures.
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