Li Na, Azarenka, Zvonareva record round robin wins – WTA Championships 2011: Day 2
On the second day of the 2011 WTA Tour Championships, which are in progress in Istanbul, Maria Sharapova (Russia) lost to Li Na (China). The Russian former Wimbledon champion had secured the first set but Li Na forced a tiebreaker
with her exceptional serves. In the second set, however, Li Na made sure not to give Sharapova any room to gather momentum. The Chinese won the match 7-6(4), 6-4 and retained her personal score against Sharapova, as now the Chinese player has scored her third
win over the 2004 Wimbledon Champion, where all her victories have come in straight sets.
The 29-year old Chinese player, winner of the 2011 French Open, Li Na, played a decent run with her attack. Her shot selection was what made her contain the Russian former number one. In terms of saving break points, the 29-year
old Li Na was at the higher end as she saved six out of ten break points. On the other hand, Sharapova, three time Grand Slam champion, could only save three out of eight break points. Although on a personal level, Sharapova has won five matches against Li
Na. This win by the Chinese, however, is her third over Sharapova, reducing her deficit with the Russian.
In another match, Victoria Azarenka (Belarus) beat Samantha Stosur (Australia) in straight sets, 6-2, 6-2. The Australian Stosur, winner of the 2011 US Open scored two aces while Azarenka was not able to deliver a single serve.
Ranking at number 7 in the world, Stosur was having problems while playing against world number 4, 22-year old Australian. Azarenka was able to save the only break point she conceded while her Australian opponent could save only seven break points out of eleven.
The 27-year old Stosur faced a physical match against the Belarusian player who won a comprehensive straight set victory. The last time both players met was at the 2011 Qatar Ladies Open, which the Belarusian had also won in straight sets.
In the last match of the day, Caroline Wozniacki (Denmark) faced Vera Zvonareva (Russia). World number one, Wozniacki and finalist of the 2009 Wimbledon Championships, was unable to score a win against the 27-year old Russian.
Zvonareva went to work straight away when she won the first set 6-2. In the second set, Wozniacki fought back and won the set 6-4. In the third and final set of the match, Zvonareva prevailed with a 6-3 win. The Danish player was able to save three break points
out of seven while her Russian opponent saved three out of five break points. In the end, it was the 6th ranked Russian, who created an upset win over the world number one Wozniacki, 6-2, 4-6, 6-3.
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