China's Li Na makes it to 2011 Australian Open final
China's Li Na, the number 9 seed at the 2011 Australian Open, made history by becoming the first-ever Chinese tennis professional to make it through to a grand slam final.
Li Na went neck and neck with Dane Caroline Wozniacki in the semifinals. Wozniacki got off to a good start, initiating the match with a 6-3 win in the first set. That, however, seemed to have been all she had to offer as her opponent took the second set
7-5 and went on to take the deciding third set 6-3 to eliminate Caroline from the tournament.
"I think maybe because I am in the final, maybe many young players or children will see and think, maybe one day we can do the same or even better than her. Someday they will feel more confident because, the China Tennis Federation is maybe not so interested
in tennis. But right now, maybe they will say, 'maybe we should be looking around tennis'. So I think if we do better, more people will come to watch and pay attention," said Li after the win.
Na will be opposed by Belgium's Kim Clijsters in the Women's singles final of the 2011 Australian Open. Clijsters made it through, defeating Russia's Vera Zvonareva in the semifinals of her draw. Zvonareva was beaten 6-3 and 6-3 to be sent home as Kim advanced
at the tournament.
Earlier, Na defeated Clijsters in a recent encounter in the warm-up event's final that was played in Sydney this month. Clijsters led 5-0, losing her way. Furthermore, the Belgian seems to be all set to clinch the championship title, which would mark her
third title since her comeback after the summer of 2009.
Clijsters stated, "It's never over [with Li]."
"I think she's a good player and we're very similar types of players. It'll be an interesting one. She's obviously playing with a lot of confidence, so am I. It's nice to be in the situation with the last two standing and trying to finish on top. It should
be a good one."
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