Australian Open 2011: Li Na First Asian Player in Open Era to Reach Slam Final

By
at Internationaled.org

Published: January 27, 2011

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Michael Chang won the French Open in 1989 as an American.

Therefore we can't count the former world No. 2's trophy as a win for Asia.

However, the New Jersey native devoted a lot of energy and money to the evolution of tennis in China.

It might be thanks to him that Na Li will be playing her first Grand Slam final in a major on Saturday.

The No. 9 seed saved a match point before turning the table and defeating current world No. 1 Caroline Wozniacki 3-6, 7-5, 6-3 in the semifinals.

Li, who already reached the same stage last year in Melbourne, becomes a true warrior when she returns to play in Australia.

The 28-year-old will need all her fighting skills when she takes on Kim Clijsters for the title.

The Sydney champion will take an 11-win streak into her Homebush Bay finals rematch against Clijsters, the Belgian having eliminated second seed Vera Zvonareva 6-3, 6-3 in less than half the time.

"I am so happy I can be the first Chinese player coming to the final," said the trailblazer from Wuhan, who was also the first to be ranked in the top 20 and then the top 10. Back in 2004, she was the first to win a WTA singles title.

"[It's] good for my tennis career, of course," said Li, one of four Chinese women in the top 100. "Good for me, good for my team. Maybe good for China tennis. I'm not sure. Maybe. Of course this is a good experience for my whole life, because many players, they play a long time but they never come to the final for a Grand Slam. Today I get it, so I'm feeling I can do well in next two days."

Her victory over the Belgian at Sydney two weeks ago is something she will use when they play in two days.

In that match, Li roared back from 0-5 to beat Clijsters and claim the biggest singles title ever for a Chinese woman.

Entering the Australian Open as the ninth seed, Li has defeated bigger women from Sweden (Sofia Arvid...
Article Source: Bleacher Report - Tennis

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