Defending champion Serena Williams battled both injuries and hard-hitting Li Na to advance to her fifth Australian Open Finals match. Li took Williams to a tiebreaker in each set, but couldn’t match Williams’ power even though Williams was lacking mobility.
Williams defended the baseline and attacked Li’s serves, trying to overpower her opponent as quickly as possible. Williams was only hitting her first serve 60% of the time, but when she got it in, she won 86% of her first serve point.
Williams defended the baseline and attacked Li’s serves, trying to overpower her opponent as quickly as possible. Williams was only hitting her first serve 60% of the time, but when she got it in, she won 86% of her first serve point.
“I really should have won sooner, Williams told an ESPN reporter after the match. “She actually played really well, every time I had match point she came up with a big serve or some amazing shot. I still had some opportunities I really wanted to close it out on my serve, kind of with an exclamation point.
It was not an easy win for Williams. Li moved well and hit hard, and defended every important point. Li defended four match points in the second set before forcing a tiebreaker.
It was not an easy win for Williams. Li moved well and hit hard, and defended every important point. Li defended four match points in the second set before forcing a tiebreaker.
“She just goes for broke when she has match points she never gives up, and every time I play her I get a match point and she wants to fight back, it’s good. I look forward to playing her next time.”
Williams, with right thigh, left calf and left ankle wrapped, was moving slowly and stiffly when she took the court against 16th-ranked Li Na. But she came out fighting, breaking her Chinese opponent in the first game.
Williams missed too many shots in the first set, while Li used her strong backhand and her quick feet to keep even with her number-one ranked opponent. Li saved a set point at 5–4 then broke back to tie the match at 5.
Williams, with right thigh, left calf and left ankle wrapped, was moving slowly and stiffly when she took the court against 16th-ranked Li Na. But she came out fighting, breaking her Chinese opponent in the first game.
Williams missed too many shots in the first set, while Li used her strong backhand and her quick feet to keep even with her number-one ranked opponent. Li saved a set point at 5–4 then broke back to tie the match at 5.
In the tiebreaker, Williams leaped ahead early, scoring on Li’s serve. Li then got a pair on Williams’ serve. Williams ran it up to 6–4 and then closed out the tiebreaker and the set with an ace on a second serve.
The second set was a mental battle. Williams wouldn’t give acknowledge her injuries, and Li seemed sure she could beat the battered champion.
At 5–4, Williams had three match points but Li defended each of them, tying the set at 5. At 6–5, Li fought off another match point, as Williams drove a volley into the net.
Li broke down in the second tiebreaker when she realized that Williams was never going to stop fighting. Instead of being demoralized because she could not close out the set, Williams seemed to welcome the tiebreaker, and attacked every point. When Williams roared in triumph after hitting a winner to take a 2–1 lead, Li’s game collapsed, and Williams won the tiebreaker 7–1 to take the match, 7–6, 7–6.
Williams goes on to the finals, her fifth straight at the Australian Open, where she will face Justine Henin, who has been steamrolling through the field in her first major tournament back after an 20-month retirement. The two are considered to be the most competitive players on the tour.
“She’s so great and she has nothing to lose,” Williams said of her finals opponent. “It’s so good to see her back on tour.”
Henin, though possibly favoring her left ankle, is much fresher than Williams, who had had nothing but tough matched in both singles and doubles since the start of the tournament. Williams will barely get a chance to rest and heal before being back on the court.
The second set was a mental battle. Williams wouldn’t give acknowledge her injuries, and Li seemed sure she could beat the battered champion.
At 5–4, Williams had three match points but Li defended each of them, tying the set at 5. At 6–5, Li fought off another match point, as Williams drove a volley into the net.
Li broke down in the second tiebreaker when she realized that Williams was never going to stop fighting. Instead of being demoralized because she could not close out the set, Williams seemed to welcome the tiebreaker, and attacked every point. When Williams roared in triumph after hitting a winner to take a 2–1 lead, Li’s game collapsed, and Williams won the tiebreaker 7–1 to take the match, 7–6, 7–6.
Williams goes on to the finals, her fifth straight at the Australian Open, where she will face Justine Henin, who has been steamrolling through the field in her first major tournament back after an 20-month retirement. The two are considered to be the most competitive players on the tour.
“She’s so great and she has nothing to lose,” Williams said of her finals opponent. “It’s so good to see her back on tour.”
Henin, though possibly favoring her left ankle, is much fresher than Williams, who had had nothing but tough matched in both singles and doubles since the start of the tournament. Williams will barely get a chance to rest and heal before being back on the court.
Friends Read Free