Li Na vs Simona Halep – 1st Round Preview: US Open 2011
As the qualifying round ended, the 128 players draw concluded with Na Li, the world No.7 playing her 1st round match of the US Open 2011 against Simona Halep at the USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center, Decoturf
(hard court).
Battling out for the women’s US Open title for the first time, the two have a totally opposite playing style. Considering that Li is a hard fast circuit player, Halep on the other hand is comfortable playing on clay court.
Li has been playing professionally for a long time, having started in 1999. She is one of the few tennis players who have retained their position after the age of 28. Incredible as she may seem, the Chinese world No.7 had been
sitting at the top as the world No. 4 earlier this year.
Taking her stats into consideration, Li started off her season entering the Hong Kong Tennis Classic, but lost to Serena Williams. Moving on to the Sydney, the 29-year-old won her first title of the season winning the Medibank
International beating Kim Clijsters.
However, she lost her shot as she came head-to-head against Clijsters in the Australian Open final. Touring through Madrid and Rome, Li made her stop at Paris and won her first Grand Slam for the year, the French Open.
Considering her performance lately, Li has a 50-50 win loss in regard to her last 10 matches. Although, the Chinese seems to have dropped down from her best form, she is still an unpredictable player.
However, the Chinese is facing a 19-year-old Romanian who is currently ranked 53rd in the world. In comparison with the world No.7, Halep has the same 50-50 win loss record regarding her previous 10 matches.
However, deducting this fact that the 19-year-old would come out to be a younger version of Serena Williams is just an imagination. Nevertheless, the Romanian uses her power at most in combination an exceptional cross-court play.
Li, however, is a complete player. Over heading the young Romanian in service, forehands, backhands, cross-court shots, down-the line play and everything else, Li has a better show off in all of these. Considering her to lose the
match is just a day dream for the Romanian 19-year-old.
Mismatches in age, experience, titles and professionalism, it’s hard to determine that the Romanian would stand any chance against the mighty Chinese.
Halep, however, can only win if the World No.7 retires during the game or the 19-year-old witnesses a miracle. The 29-year-old Chinese is certainly old, however, she rises up as one of the most strongest challengers in today’s
game.
Disclaimer: The ideas expressed in the article are the writer’s own personal views and have nothing to do with bettor.com’s editorial policy.
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