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Li Na into Australian Open final
Source: Xinhua |
January 24, 2013, Thursday
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Former French Open champion Li Na swept second-seeded Russian Maria Sharapova 6-2, 6-2 to reach her second Australian Open final today.
The China's top player reached her first Grand Slam final at the Melbourne Park in 2011 but lost to Kim Clijsters of Belgium, just before she won Asia's first Grand Slam title in the French Open.
Sharapova, who only lost a historical tournament-low nine games in her previous five matches, struggled with her serve from the very beginning of the match. She double faulted twice in her first serve game, allowing Li to break her in the first game.
Li held to lead 2-0 and then broke again for 4-1 with a cross-court return. Sharapova fought her way to three break points in the sixth game and secured the chance when Li missed a return.
Li returned the favour in the following game to lead 5-2. The No.6 seed served for the set, racing to 40-0 and wrapped the first set up in 48 minutes.
Li took the first service break in the second set to remain on track with a 3-2 lead, grabbed a second at 5-2 and served out the match. Sharapova saved one match point but Li made an ACE to take advantage again and didn't waste the second chance.
"Li played a really great match. She was certainly much more aggressive than I was and I was always on the defense," said Sharapova. "I was making too many unforced errors.
The straight-set victory improved Li's record against Sharapova to 5-8. The pair met three times in 2012 and the Russian won all of the clashes.
Li will play against the winner between defending champion Victoria Azarenka of Belarus and 19-year-old Sloane Stephens, who edged out tournament-favourite and her fellow American Serena Williams in the quarterfinals.
The China's top player reached her first Grand Slam final at the Melbourne Park in 2011 but lost to Kim Clijsters of Belgium, just before she won Asia's first Grand Slam title in the French Open.
Sharapova, who only lost a historical tournament-low nine games in her previous five matches, struggled with her serve from the very beginning of the match. She double faulted twice in her first serve game, allowing Li to break her in the first game.
Li held to lead 2-0 and then broke again for 4-1 with a cross-court return. Sharapova fought her way to three break points in the sixth game and secured the chance when Li missed a return.
Li returned the favour in the following game to lead 5-2. The No.6 seed served for the set, racing to 40-0 and wrapped the first set up in 48 minutes.
Li took the first service break in the second set to remain on track with a 3-2 lead, grabbed a second at 5-2 and served out the match. Sharapova saved one match point but Li made an ACE to take advantage again and didn't waste the second chance.
"Li played a really great match. She was certainly much more aggressive than I was and I was always on the defense," said Sharapova. "I was making too many unforced errors.
The straight-set victory improved Li's record against Sharapova to 5-8. The pair met three times in 2012 and the Russian won all of the clashes.
Li will play against the winner between defending champion Victoria Azarenka of Belarus and 19-year-old Sloane Stephens, who edged out tournament-favourite and her fellow American Serena Williams in the quarterfinals.
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