Li reaches Aussie final for third time
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China’s Li Na marched towards a second grand slam title yesterday in Melbourne by blasting past teenager Eugenie Bouchard and into the Australian Open final, where she will face Dominika Cibulkova.
The fourth seed steamrolled the 19-year-old Canadian 6-2, 6-4 to continue her stellar form at Melbourne Park where she has now reached three finals, as well as another semifinal over the past five years.
After an agonizing defeat to Victoria Azarenka in last year’s final at Rod Laver Arena, when she twice rolled her ankle and briefly blacked out, she is desperate to go one better.
“It is the third time, so pretty close to the trophy,” the 31-year-old said, after teaching the ultra-confident Bouchard, 19, a tennis lesson.
“At least I’ll try to not fall down this time, because last year in the final I think I played well but I only can say (I was) unlucky because I fell down twice.”
Li’s gutsy decision to get up and play on last year won her a new legion of fans in Australia, where she was already hugely popular due to her bubbly off-court persona.
Her French Open victory in 2011, the first singles grand slam title for an Asian player, helped popularize tennis in China. Li is also the figurehead for a push by women’s tennis into the region.
She will go into tomorrow’s showdown a clear favorite against Cibulkova, the tournament’s surprise package, who will be making her grand slam final debut after crushing fifth-seeded Agniezska Radwanska 6-1, 6-2.
The 20th seed was in inspired form against the Pole, who said she was exhausted after ending Azarenka’s title defense in three sets on Wednesday.
It ensured Cibulkova not only made her first grand slam final in 26 attempts, but also goes down in the history books as the first singles player from Slovakia to get so far.
“I had so many thoughts in my head (during the match) but just focused on my game. I can’t believe I’m in a final,” Cibulkova said.
“Li is a great player, someone I really looked up to when I was a junior and I just want to go out there and enjoy it.”
Li raced out to a 5-0 lead in 14 minutes against Bouchard, who had her own personal cheering section, the “Genie Army,” serenade her throughout the match.
And the Chinese star thinks Bouchard has a bright future.
“I think maybe she will be best player in the world. But today (I’m) so lucky,” said Li, who jokingly apologized to the Genie Army. “Sorry about that. If you guys be happy, I will go home.”
Li said she hopes her experience will pay off against Cibulkova.
“I’ve got more experience. Right now the final is special. The final is final, but it’s still just one match,” she said.
“So I still have to hit the ball to try to do my best. I cannot wait for my opponent make a mistake.”
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