Li Na will feature the next season’s Apia International Sydney– Tennis News
Asia’s lone Grand Slam champion in tennis history, Li Na, has confirmed that she would take part in the Apia International Sydney tournament in 2013 to prepare for the Australian Open campaign.
The world number seven is a former champion at this event and will start as a favourite in the next edition too. The tournament will be held from January 6 to 12 at the hard courts.
Li will try to make amends of her this year’s loss in the title match. The Chinese star was defending champion and looked strong to retain it but she lost to Belarus’ Victoria Azarenka in three sets 2-6, 6-1, 3-6 in the final.
In the preceding year, Li had sunned the then world number three, Kim Clijsters of Belgium, in straight sets 7-6(3), 6-3 to lift the winning trophy. That was her second meeting with Belgian at the outdoor hard courts of Sydney.
In 2007, the Chinese player reached the last four-stage at her debut but went down at the hands of Clijsters in a hard fought contest. The right-hander stayed away from the event in the following two years and when she made a comeback in 2010, she got beaten
by Flavia Pennetta in a one sided match in the second round.
Recalling her memories of the city and the event, Li said, "The final against Kim (Clijsters) in 2011 was one of the best experiences in my whole life. I like the city of course and when you go back to the same tournament you see
old friends that you see every year, so it feels really good.”
Craig Watson, who is the tournament director of the event, was happy due to the Chinese star’s confirmation to take part in the event. He believes that Li’s presence will give a boost to the event, as local Chinese community will
head to the tennis court to watch their idol in action.
Watson stated, "Li Na has performed exceptionally well in Sydney the last two years, giving Sydney tennis fans and the local Chinese community who come and support her plenty of great tennis action to cheer on."
On the men’s side of the draw, Frenchmen will come in full force. Jo-Wilfried Tsonga will head them, while Richard Gasquet, Gael Monfils and Gilles Simon have also confirmed their entry. Australian youngster, Bernard Tomic, will
be also joining their field and two more top players, Fernando Verdasco and John Isner, will take part in the event.
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