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Li, the 15th seed, stunned the fourth-seeded Kim Clijsters, 4-6, 6-4, 6-2, in the fourth round of the 6.9 million dollar event.

Clijsters is perennially among the top players in the world. The Belgian has 34 career titles, including one at Sydney earlier this season, where she beat Li in three sets in the semi-finals.

That was Li's third loss in as many career meetings with Clijsters. But she reached the round of 16 at the Australian Open and was a surprising semi-finalist at Indian Wells earlier this month - her best career showing at both events.

Playing in her first event in over a month, Clijsters apparently did not shake off all of the rust in her first two matches. She was let down by her serve, committing seven double-faults to help fuel seven service breaks by Li.

Clijsters became the second highly seeded woman in as many days to make an early exit. Fifth seed Martina Hingis was bounced Sunday.

In a night match, Serena Williams posted a 6-3, 6-4 victory over 23rd seed Lucie Safarova of the Czech Republic in a third-round match that was scheduled for Sunday night but was pushed back after rain and wind disrupted Sunday's slate.

Seeded 13th in this Tier I hardcourt event, Williams will get a chance to avenge her sister's loss as she set up a meeting with top seed Maria Sharapova.