Lucie Safarova praises Li Na – Rogers Cup 2012
World number 23, Lucie Safarova, couldn’t solve the puzzle of the 11th seed Chinese star, Li Na, in the semi-final of the Rogers Cup. Despite taking a lead in the opening set, she couldn’t stop her opponent form running
away with the show in the second phase of the match.
However, it was not the only chance she squandered; a lead of 5-1 was turned down in a defeat by the belligerent Chinese who won six games on the trot; breaking her opponent’s serve for three times in a row.
It was a moment of absolute disappointment for the Czech starlet who was looking to reach the final of the tournament alongside her fellow compatriot, the sixth ranked Petra Kvitova. It was not the case but the defeat was gracefully
accepted by the newest member of the Top-20 athletes.
Safarova commented about the match and her opponent stating, "Closing a match out is always a little bit of a nervous moment. Because she was doing quite a lot of mistakes in the games before, I didn't put enough pressure, and
she used that situation to turn it around. She started to play much better at that moment, and it just started slipping away. She plays very fast and flat. She just knows how to play me."
She further added, "I had a great week here. My performance in all the matches was very high. Of course I'm very disappointed about today, because it was so close, but that's tennis."
Safarova will break into the Top-20 players list in the new edition of the rankings that will be issued on Monday by the Women Tennis Association. It will be her career high ranking after her previous best rank of world number
21 that was taken away from her in the midst of June, this year.
She is scheduled to play in the Western & Southern Open at Cincinnati leaving for the tour on the eve of Monday.
Grand Slam Champions, Li Na and Petra Kvitova, will lock horns on the eve of Monday for the title battle with the Czech stepping into the courts as the hot favourite.
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