Li, Serena advance Down Under
Print Edition
Li Na did some research on YouTube regarding her opponent Ana Konjuh of Croatia and then went out and dominated in a 6-2, 6-0 victory in the first round of the Australian Open yesterday in Melbourne.
World No. 1 Serena Williams crushed Ashleigh Barty of Australia 6-2, 6-1. Williams could face Li in the semifinals.
Venus Williams, Serena’s older sister and seven-time Grand Slam champion, was the biggest name to fall on day one, losing 2-6, 6-4, 6-4 in a marathon clash against Russian 22nd seed Ekaterina Makarova.
Venus said she made too many errors in the match.
Li, 32, will have to check YouTube all over again for her next opponent as she faces another 16-year-old unknown to her.
Li was nearly flawless at a place she usually plays well, winning in 61 minutes against 16-year-old Konjuh.
“Like zero, you know,” Li said when asked what she knew about Konjuh’s game ahead of the match.
“I tried to find her game in YouTube, and I watched a couple of games. But it was still strange at the beginning of the match because I really didn’t know the way she played on the court.”
Li strayed often from her usual baseline position, several times volleying from the center of the court for winners during the second set when she broke Konjuh’s service.
“I always love coming to Melbourne.” Li added. “I’m feeling good and feeling healthy.”
Li will spend her off-day today studying any available video on qualifier Belinda Bencic of Switzerland, the reigning French Open and Wimbledon junior champion who beat 43-year-old Kimiko Date-Krumm of Japan in three sets.
Also through was Germany’s ninth seed Angelique Kerber, who had a second-set wipeout before bouncing back to overcome Australian Jarmila Gajosova 6-3, 0-6, 6-2.
Former world No. 1 Ana Ivanovic and local hope Samantha Stosur also safely booked second-round berths.
But Italy’s Sara Errani became the highest seeded casualty when she lost to Germany’s Julia Goerges 6-3, 6-2.
Kirsten Flipkens beat Britain’s Laura Robson 6-3, 6-0. Other winners included No. 26 Lucie Safarova, No. 28 Flavia Pennetta, No. 30 Eugenie Bouchard of Canada and No. 31 Daniela Hantuchova.
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