Britain's Elena Baltacha is through to the third round of the BNP Paribas Open after an impressive victory against seventh seed Li Na of China.

The qualifier won 7-6 (10-8) 2-6 7-6 (9-7) in a marathon match that last almost three hours in Indian Wells.

She fought back from 5-1 down in the third set tiebreaker to seal her first win over a top-10 ranked player.

Baltacha next plays Aussie wildcard Alicia Molik, who beat Spain's Anabel Medina Garrigues 6-4 5-7 7-6 (5-3).

"As the tiebreak started, she just came out with unbelievable stuff," said the elated British number one afterwards.

"I think she hit four backhand winners down the line. I thought, 'OK, yeah, that's why you're top 10. I understand.'

"But then at 5-1, I went into the zone and I felt really strong and I just fought my heart out," added the 26-year-old, who saved two match points in that tiebreaker en route to the victory.

Baltacha, who came through two qualifying matches as well as a first-round contest, said she thought the first-round bye given to all 32 seeded players might have made things harder for Li.

"I think sometimes with the top players, the best time to play them is when they haven't played a match," she added.

"They haven't experienced the conditions, they haven't experienced the court, and it can be a bit tricky for them."

Baltacha is the first British woman to beat a top 10 player since Sam Smith beat Conchita Martinez - then ranked seventh and seeded eighth - in the third round of Wimbledon in 1998.

In other matches, Justine Henin crashed out in the second round, beaten 6-2 1-6 6-4 by Argentine Gisela Dulko.

The Belgian former world number one made a remarkable comeback from a 19-month retirement by reaching the final in Australia earlier this year.

American Vania King went close to upsetting second seed Carolina Wozniacki, taking a 4-1 lead in the third set, but eventually lost 5-7 6-2 6-4 to the Dane.

Fourth seed Elena Dementieva was also tested before beating Olga Govortsova of Belarus 6-4 4-6 6-0 to go through.

Fifth seed Agnieszka Radwanska had a much easier time of it, however, going through when Russia's Anna Chakvetadze retired hurt while trailing 6-2 5-3.

Tenth seed Maria Sharapova fought back to beat fellow Russian Vera Dushevina 4-6 7-5 6-2.

In the men's event in California, Italy's Andreas Seppi beat American Robby Ginepri 2-6 7-5 (7-5) 6-3 to set up a second-round clash with Britain's Andy Murray on Sunday.

Murray and Ross Hutchins face American duo Andy Roddick and James Blake in the doubles on Saturday.

Argentine wild card David Nalbandian saw off qualifier Stefan Koubek of Austria 6-2 7-6 (7-2) while Blake blew past Spaniard Daniel Gimeno-Traver 6-3 6-2.

France's Richard Gasquet lost a tough battle against Simon Greul of Germany, going down 7-6 (10-8) 7-6 (9-7).

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