Australian Open champion Li Na has booked her fourth-round berth at the Indian Wells WTA and ATP Masters hardcourt tournament with a 6-3, 6-4 victory over Karolina Pliskova of the Czech Republic.

Li, the world number two and the top women’s seed in the California desert, is seeking her third title of 2014.

She lifted the trophy in Shenzhen in her native China before claiming the second Grand Slam crown of her career in Melbourne in January.

Li said she was surprised by 67th-ranked Pliskova’s big serve in their first WTA meeting, but she held on to win in one hour and 21 minutes on Monday.

She will play the winner of the match between Canadian Aleksandra Wozniak and 21st-seeded Russian Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova.