Li overcomes Zakopalova to claim 7th career title
Source: Agencies |
January 6, 2013, Sunday
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Print Edition
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TOP seed Li Na survived a mid-match meltdown to overcome Czech Klara Zakopalova 6-3, 1-6, 7-5 in the final of the inaugural Shenzhen Open yesterday, earning the Chinese a seventh career title.
World number seven Li, who won the 2011 French Open, looked in danger of disappointing the home fans after surrendering her serve in the first game of the deciding set.
Li, who beat fellow Chinese Peng Shuai 6-4, 6-0 in Friday's semifinals, hit back to win five of the next six games but from 5-2 up allowed fifth seed Zakopalova to draw level at 5-5.
In a topsy-turvy finish encapsulating the match, Li collected herself to put together two solid games and give her a boost ahead of the Australian Open, which begins on January 14.
Li had to overcome an erratic serve, as she double faulted 10 times in the match.
She reached the final of the year's first grand slam in Melbourne in 2011 before going on to become China's first major singles champion in Paris.
Yesterday's victory was Li's second WTA title in China, following her breakthrough at Guangzhou in 2004 when she became the first Chinese winner on the women's tour.
The US$500,000 Shenzhen tournament became the third event in China on the WTA calendar for 2013 as tennis continues to expand in the country after Li's recent success.
In Doha, Nikolay Davydenko and Richard Gasquet advanced to the Qatar Open final, both winning on Friday.
Davydenko, a former No. 3 who has dropped to 44th in the world, beat top-seeded David Ferrer 6-2, 6-3. The second-seeded Gasquet defeated German Daniel Brands 7-5, 7-5.
Davydenko broke Ferrer to go up 2-1 and then again to make it 5-2, winning 13 of 14 points in one stretch. Ferrer, meanwhile, was uncharacteristically sloppy, hitting only two winners and making 15 unforced errors.
"I waited already a long time to reach a final. Last season was pretty tough and the best result was a semifinal," said Davydenko. "Now in my first tournament, I'm in a final so happy."
World number seven Li, who won the 2011 French Open, looked in danger of disappointing the home fans after surrendering her serve in the first game of the deciding set.
Li, who beat fellow Chinese Peng Shuai 6-4, 6-0 in Friday's semifinals, hit back to win five of the next six games but from 5-2 up allowed fifth seed Zakopalova to draw level at 5-5.
In a topsy-turvy finish encapsulating the match, Li collected herself to put together two solid games and give her a boost ahead of the Australian Open, which begins on January 14.
Li had to overcome an erratic serve, as she double faulted 10 times in the match.
She reached the final of the year's first grand slam in Melbourne in 2011 before going on to become China's first major singles champion in Paris.
Yesterday's victory was Li's second WTA title in China, following her breakthrough at Guangzhou in 2004 when she became the first Chinese winner on the women's tour.
The US$500,000 Shenzhen tournament became the third event in China on the WTA calendar for 2013 as tennis continues to expand in the country after Li's recent success.
In Doha, Nikolay Davydenko and Richard Gasquet advanced to the Qatar Open final, both winning on Friday.
Davydenko, a former No. 3 who has dropped to 44th in the world, beat top-seeded David Ferrer 6-2, 6-3. The second-seeded Gasquet defeated German Daniel Brands 7-5, 7-5.
Davydenko broke Ferrer to go up 2-1 and then again to make it 5-2, winning 13 of 14 points in one stretch. Ferrer, meanwhile, was uncharacteristically sloppy, hitting only two winners and making 15 unforced errors.
"I waited already a long time to reach a final. Last season was pretty tough and the best result was a semifinal," said Davydenko. "Now in my first tournament, I'm in a final so happy."
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