Li sets up duel with Serena in quarterfinals
Source: Agencies |
June 29, 2010, Tuesday
|
Print Edition
Print Edition
LI Na extolled the virtues of positive thinking - but not too much of it - after brushing aside Poland's Agnieszka Radwanska 6-3, 6-2 to reach her second Wimbledon quarterfinal yesterday.
The 28-year-old from Wuhan made light of the weight of Chinese expectation following her first grand slam semifinal appearance at the Australian Open this year and her debut grasscourt tournament victory at Birmingham three weeks ago.
With a wide smile and a shrug the ninth seed said: "After I win in Birmingham, I was feeling more confident, more positive thinking on the grasscourt."
Her coach told her to forget that triumph. Wimbledon, he said, would be a completely different experience. "I couldn't forget, though," she said. "I play five rounds and win the tournament. How I can forget that?"
The compact and combative Li's quick feet give her an advantage on grass. She takes the ball early from the baseline and her rare trips to the net are well judged. She seldom misses a volley. She hustled the elegant seventh-seeded Radwanska all round Court 18, stopping her from settling and serving with venom off the baked surface in the warm mid-day sun.
The 21-year-old Pole, who looked listless and heavy-footed in comparison, was quickly 0-3 down and never found a way back. After eight grasscourt wins in the last month, Li knew she had an advantage over Radwanska, who slumped out of the Eastbourne warm-up tournament in the first round so had little chance for match practice on the slick surface. Li, a quarterfinalist in 2006, also had a score to settle after losing to Radwanska in the third round here last year.
"I lost to her, same Court 18, same opponent," Li said. "So as I was walked from the locker room to the court. I felt like I should win this match. I didn't want it to be the same as last year."
Li, the first Chinese to break into the top 10 in the world after her exceptional Australian Open run earlier this year, next meets her Melbourne nemesis in world No. 1 Serena Williams, who beat Maria Sharapova 7-6, 6-4 in a tense fourth-round contest yesterday.
Kim Clijsters won the battle of the Belgians when she beat Justine Henin 2-6, 6-2, 6-3 for a berth in the quarterfinals. Also, fourth-seeded Jelena Jankovic retired from her fourth-round match against Vera Zvonareva due to a back injury. The Serb had treatment when trailing Zvonareva 6-1, 3-0 and retired three points later. It is the fourth time Jankovic has bowed out in the fourth round at Wimbledon.
Venus Williams broke back twice to stay in the second set, then escaped in the tiebreaker to complete a 6-4, 7-6 (5) victory over 92nd-ranked Jarmila Groth of Australia.
Roger Federer reached the quarterfinals at a 25th consecutive grand slam tournament by easily beating Jurgen Melzer 6-3, 6-2, 6-3.
The 28-year-old from Wuhan made light of the weight of Chinese expectation following her first grand slam semifinal appearance at the Australian Open this year and her debut grasscourt tournament victory at Birmingham three weeks ago.
With a wide smile and a shrug the ninth seed said: "After I win in Birmingham, I was feeling more confident, more positive thinking on the grasscourt."
Her coach told her to forget that triumph. Wimbledon, he said, would be a completely different experience. "I couldn't forget, though," she said. "I play five rounds and win the tournament. How I can forget that?"
The compact and combative Li's quick feet give her an advantage on grass. She takes the ball early from the baseline and her rare trips to the net are well judged. She seldom misses a volley. She hustled the elegant seventh-seeded Radwanska all round Court 18, stopping her from settling and serving with venom off the baked surface in the warm mid-day sun.
The 21-year-old Pole, who looked listless and heavy-footed in comparison, was quickly 0-3 down and never found a way back. After eight grasscourt wins in the last month, Li knew she had an advantage over Radwanska, who slumped out of the Eastbourne warm-up tournament in the first round so had little chance for match practice on the slick surface. Li, a quarterfinalist in 2006, also had a score to settle after losing to Radwanska in the third round here last year.
"I lost to her, same Court 18, same opponent," Li said. "So as I was walked from the locker room to the court. I felt like I should win this match. I didn't want it to be the same as last year."
Li, the first Chinese to break into the top 10 in the world after her exceptional Australian Open run earlier this year, next meets her Melbourne nemesis in world No. 1 Serena Williams, who beat Maria Sharapova 7-6, 6-4 in a tense fourth-round contest yesterday.
Kim Clijsters won the battle of the Belgians when she beat Justine Henin 2-6, 6-2, 6-3 for a berth in the quarterfinals. Also, fourth-seeded Jelena Jankovic retired from her fourth-round match against Vera Zvonareva due to a back injury. The Serb had treatment when trailing Zvonareva 6-1, 3-0 and retired three points later. It is the fourth time Jankovic has bowed out in the fourth round at Wimbledon.
Venus Williams broke back twice to stay in the second set, then escaped in the tiebreaker to complete a 6-4, 7-6 (5) victory over 92nd-ranked Jarmila Groth of Australia.
Roger Federer reached the quarterfinals at a 25th consecutive grand slam tournament by easily beating Jurgen Melzer 6-3, 6-2, 6-3.
- About Us
- |
- Terms of Use
- |
-
RSS - |
- Privacy Policy
- |
- Contact Us
- |
- Shanghai Call Center: 962288
- |
- Tip-off hotline: 52920043
- 沪ICP证：沪ICP备05050403号-1
- |
- 互联网新闻信息服务许可证：31120180004
- |
- 网络视听许可证：0909346
- |
- 广播电视节目制作许可证：沪字第354号
- |
- 增值电信业务经营许可证：沪B2-20120012
Copyright © 1999- Shanghai Daily. All rights reserved.Preferably viewed with Internet Explorer 8 or newer browsers.
