Li Na: A recap of her performances this year
Born on February 26, 1982 in the city of Hubei, Li Na is a professional tennis player from China. The twenty eight year old Chinese became the first female tennis player from her country to reach the top ten rankings this year during the month of August. Li also registered her name as the first Chinese tennis player to make her way into the quarterfinal of a Grand Slam tournament at Wimbledon back in 2006. The right handed Li has been one of the most successful tennis stars in the history of China and with her highest ranking gained in February, 2009 as Asia’s as well as China's number one female tennis player, with a world ranking of number ten at that point. By making her way into the semi finals of the hard court Australian Open tennis competition this season, Li Na jumped into the top ten rankings on the very first occasion in her career. The Chinese is currently ranked number nine in the world by WTA.
As far as her performances this season are concerned, Li participated at the 2010 ASB Classic tennis tournament as her very first competition of the year. The second seeded Li was upset by Kaia Kanepi in the first round of the contest in a two setter clash. The final match score was 6–1 6–3. The ninth ranked Li next played at the Medibank International tennis championship where she ousted the fourth seeded Caroline Wozniacki in her opening round battle in a total of three sets. The final match score was 2–6 6–3 6–2. She however lost in the second round at the hands of Flavia Pennetta with a final match score of 2–6, 6–7(4).
The Chinese was seeded number sixteen at the hard court Australian Open Grand Slam event. She knocked down the currently second ranked Caroline Wozniacki in the fourth round of the competition with a final match score of 6–4 6–3. In her quarterfinal clash, Li Na upset the world number six American, Venus Williams in a total of three sets and made her way into the semi final round of the Australian Open tennis tournament for the very first time in her career. The Chinese however lost her semi final battle at the hands of top ranked Serena Williams who took the revenge of her sister’s loss in a total of two sets. The final match score was 7–6(4), 7–6(1). Li as a result of her semi final run at the Australian Open jumped into the top ten list by the Women’s Professional tennis.
At the Barclays Dubai Tennis competition, the eight seeded Li downed Maria Jose Martinez Sanchez in her second round clash. In her third round of the competition, Li Na got the better of Marion Bartoli in a total of three sets. The final match score was 3–6 7–5 6–0. Li withdrew from her quarterfinals’ match versus Shahar Pe'er as a result of an injury at 5–7 0–3.
Li was seeded eleventh to win the title at the clay court French Open tennis tournament, however she could not pass the third round of the competition as Francesca Schiavone got the better of her in straight sets.
Li next played at the 2010 AEGON Classic tennis tournament where she made her way into the final round after dismissing Aravane Rezai in the semi final battle. In the final round, the Chinese met the Russian, Maria Sharapova who was ousted by her in straight sets to win the title.
At the grass court Grand Slam tournament, the ninth seeded Chinese professional tennis player Li Na got the better of Agnieszka Radwanska to make her way into the quarter final round of the competition. The top seeded Serena Williams eliminated the Chinese in their quarters clash in a total of two sets. The final match score was 7-5, 6-3.
As far as the upcoming US Open 2010 is concerned, Li is looking forward to improve her rankings further high by at least reaching the later stages of the competition.
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