New York  - Former champion Kim Clijsters made a run into the semi-finals of the US Open Tuesday as she played her first Grand Slam since quitting the game earlier this decade, producing a defeat of China's Li Na 6-2, 6-4 Tuesday.

The success for the 26-year-old Belgian who quit the sport nearly two and a half years ago for marriage and motherhood could send the one-time No 1 back to a ranking in the 50s a month after her comeback to the WTA.

Clijsters next faces a test between the winner from world No 2 and defending champion Serena Williams and Italian tenth seed Flavia Pennetta.

Against Li, Clijsters won a battle of mistakes, advancing despite 25 unforced errors and just nine winners. But it was worse for the Chinese, with Li striking 41 miscues in just over an hour.

The Belgian has not won the title since the last time she played, in 2005.  dpa