Maria Sharapova vs Li Na – Match Preview: TEB
BNP Paribas WTA Championships 2011
The eight of the world’s top professional female tennis players are set to compete at the TEB BNP Paribas WTA Championships and have been divided into two round robin groups; White and Red. The second round robin matches of the
year-end Championships are set to begin on Wednesday the 26th of October 2011.
The two white group contestants to take up the challenge against each other were; former world number one Maria Sharapova and the first ever Chinese to compete for the Championships Li Na, who was also seeded as number five. The
two have competed eight times against each other prior to this event; in their head-to-head run Sharapova leads with five matches to Li Na’s three.
The first time they met was in 2005 at the Australian Open during the third round and Sharapova had won the match in straight sets. A year later the two had faced each other three times and in all the events they duelled against
each other, Sharapova had triumphed.
However, in the last three meetings, Li Na had turned a notch higher against Sharapova and had won all the three matches by familiarizing herself with her opponent’s technique and style. The last run between the two was at the
French Open during the semi final. Li had not only managed to defeat Sharapova but also clinched the title of the second Grand Slam of the year and thrashed many famous names along the way.
The Chinese superstar is a debutant at the season finale championships and has never contested for this prestigious title but she qualified for the event by the virtue of her maiden Grand Slam triumph at the French Open and a breath
taking title run in Sydney at the start of the year which ended with a win over Kim Clijsters in the final. However, Li was unable to haul up another title after her Roland Garros success but let’s hope she gains her top form with every single match passing
in Istanbul.
Mean while, leading lady of women's tennis, Maria Sharapova clinched the winner’s silverware in her debut in 2004, the same year she also bagged Wimbledon Championships, beating the thirteen times Grand Slam champion Serena Williams in
both occasions. Although, Sharapova’s game has been plagued by injuries, she has successfully put her career-threatening shoulder injury behind her and was able to clinch two titles this season in Rome and Cincinnati.
World number two Sharapova also reached the finals at Wimbledon but lost the title match to Petra Kvitova. Sharapova definitely has an exceptional experience and has the ability of taming the best in the midst of it all.
Many tennis critics think it will be a hands down victory for Sharapova, however, Li Na might surprise the fans, even though, it is least expected.
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