Li Na defeats Maria Sharapova; moves into second Grand Slam final – French Open 2011
Chinese ace Na Li defeats former world number one, Maria Sharapova of Russia in straight sets to advance into the final of the 2011 Roland Garros in Paris, France on Thursday, June 2nd.
The world number seven took almost two hours to secure a 6-4, 7-5 victory over the seventh seeded Russian diva.
This was the pair’s eighth meeting on court with the Russian previously leading the head-to-head 5-2. The only time the pair ever met on clay was the round of sixteen at the 2009 Roland Garros when the Russian struggled past the Chinese in three sets. However, since then the Chinese has evolved into a lethal force on the courts. In their last meeting in the title match at Birmingham last year, Na Li was able to secure a straight, yet not so simple, sets victory against Sharapova.
Kicking off the semi-final at the Philippe Chatrier, Li opened serve comfortably and within minutes managed to put herself on the scoreboard. A quick backhand from Li and a short return from Sharapova on deuce in the second game, allowed the Chinese to successfully convert a breakpoint to her advantage and lead the set to 2-0. A serve game later, Li was leading the first set 3-0.
Sharapova finally put herself on the scoreboard in the fourth game without losing a single point on her service. Bouncing back, Sharapova broke back and managed to reduce the deficit to 3-4. An exchange of break later, Sharapova was able to reduce the trail to 4-5. However, failing to hold her serve in the tenth game, Sharapova sent a wide forehand at 30-40 to give the first set to Li.
Taking almost an hour, Li hit fourteen winners as she clinched a total of 37 points to Sharapova’s 31 to go one up in the set score, securing a 6-4 victory in the opener.
Down but not definitely out, Sharapova came back fighting in the second set. A lucky break early in the second set put Sharapova in a 3-1 lead against the Chinese, which she extended to 4-2 moments later. However, fighting back, the Chinese was able to level the score at four games each. A double fault from Sharapova in the twelfth game allowed Li to clinch a 7-5 win in the second set, sealing her straight sets victory.
Li moves on ahead to face either defending champion Francesca Schiavone or local hope Marion Bartoli in the title match here.
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