Li Na storms into Australian Open final
0 Comment(s)
Print
E-mail China.org.cn, January 24, 2013
|
|
|
Li Na of China returns a ball to Maria Sharapova of Russia during women's singles semi-final of Australian Open at Rod Laver Arena on Jan.24, 2013. |
Li Na upsets the odds to crush No. 2 seed Maria Sharapova in a 6-2 6-2 win that put her in the Australian Open final for the second time in three years.
In an astonishing display of all-round power and know how, Li never allowed the free-swinging Sharapova to gain a toehold in the match, consistently attacking her taller foe with well-placed serves, huge returns and lethal groundstrokes.
Li finished the one hour and 33 minute contest with 21 winners, 18 unforced errors and she forced Sharapova into 21 errors, an impressive plus-24 differential.
Sharapova was the heavy favorite after conceding only nine games in her first five matches, a record at the Australian Open since it expanded to a 128-player draw in 1988.
Li, had lost her last three matches to Sharapova, but with a new coach in the brainy Carlos Rodriguez, who once coached 2004 Australian Open champion Justine Henin, she played a very smart contest, frequently hitting behind Sharapova, stretching her way out on her forehand side so that she couldn't generate enough power, and feasting on every second serve that she could. Li, who reached the 2011 Australian Open final, won 18 of the Russian's 24 second serve points.
|
|
|
Maria Sharapova of Russia reacts in women's singles of Australian Open against Li Na of China at Rod Laver Arena on Jan.24, 2013. |
But whether she had the proper strategy or not, Li had to execute on the big points and that she did, breaking Sharapova five times, and defending six of the seven break points on her own serve.
Sharapova fought gamely in the second set in trying to turn the match around, but the sixth seed broke her to 3-2 when Sharapova erred on a backhand, and then she failed to break Li in the next game when holding a break point when her foe ripped a backhand winner.
Li then broke Sharapova to 5-2 when the 2008 Australian Open champion committed three straight unforced errors. She then efficiently closed the contest out with a 160km/h ace, and then watched Sharapova commit a backhand unforced error.
The 2011 Roland Garros champion will play the winner of the match between defending champion Victoria Azarenka and American teenager Sloane Stephens.
Go to Forum >>0 Comment(s)