Li Na ousts Heather Watson to reach the second round – US Open 2012
Ninth seeded, Na Li, prevailed over the British underdog, Heather Watson, in the first round of the US Open held on the hard courts in New York. The Chinese participant defeated her rival in straight set, 6-2, 6-3, to reach
the second round.
In an interview, Li told the media, “I'm really happy I won because the last few years I lost first round. When I saw the schedule, I told myself I had to do it myself, I really had to win the first match, otherwise it would
be the same as last year and fly back home. My opponent played really well today, but I'm 10 years older than her, so I have more experience and really had to show it today. I knew I had to put a little bit more pressure on her then. I was able to make it
tougher for her.”
In the opening set, both players held their opening serves and equalized the scores to 1-1. In the third game, the British participant gained the lead but immediately, the scores were equalized to 2-all. Then 30-year-old
veteran got alarmed and pounced forward to clinch the remaining games of the set and eventually jolted down a 6-2 lead.
The former world number four, Li Na, smashed one ace against Watson and never double faulted. She had a high first serve percentage of 85, converting 23 of 27 first serve points. On the other hand, the 20-year-old fired one
ace and double faulted once. She had a reasonable first serve percentage of 63, pocketing eight of 15 points. The Chinese contender successfully capitalized two of three break points; however, the Brit was unable to convert the only one she received.
In the following set, the world number 71 took the early lead in the set. Li’s performance considerably declined and Watson took advantage of the situation and got in the driving seat with a 3-1 lead. Nonetheless, as the
game progressed the Chinese contender came back strongly to claim the set and captured the win with a 6-3 score.
The right-hander British bombarded her rival with three aces and double faulted twice. She had a relatively better first serve percentage of 73, bagging 11 of 24 first serve points. Li delivered two aces and never committed
a single double fault. She had 64 percent as her first serve percentage with nine of 16 first serve points.
Li is drawn in a match with the Australian contender Casey Dellacqua in the second match.
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