Both Li Na and Dominika Cibulkova played exceptionally well to make it to the Australian Open women’s final. The tennis review reflects on their belting victories.
L.Na beats E. Bouchard 6-2, 6-4.
Who was not afraid of Li Na as she raced into a 5-0 lead in her semi-final versus 19 year old first time last fourer Eugenie Bouchard? Belting winners from her forehand, backhand, serve and volley, and punishing Bouchard’s second serve with thumping returns, Li Na did not put a foot wrong for the first 20 minutes. The fans and the Bouchard camp must have been fearful that the whitewash might drown Bouchard in her Major semi-final debut.
But Bouchard proved herself to be quite the debutante. The very instant that the very bright Li Na purple patch began to fade, Bouchard stepped into the court and began to assert herself. Painting the lines like her and Ni La were mirroring each other lovingly, Bouchard moved in and struck winners into the open court. She reduced the first set deficit to 2-5, edging Li Na in tight deuce games, and did all she could to stop Li Na taking it 6-2. The Chinese, however, stood firm, Grand slam champion that she is, and served out for the set.
Bouchard started the second set off where she left the first. Putting pressure on the Li Na serve, she broke her to lead 2-0. It was a short-lived lead though as Li Na broke back. The two continued to go at one another, Bouchard growing in spirit as her winners mounted, Li Na the very picture of inconsistency as she both painted the lines and missed them by wide margins. Li broke, then Bouchard broke again, and the battle went on to 4-4.
Li Na, two games away from her third Australian Open final, sensed the timing was right, as right as her timing of her return was. She took on Bouchard’s second serves and sent them flying past the Canadian. Breaking Bouchard to lead 5-4, Li Na stepped up and served for the match. A service winner earned her match point and a backhand cross court passing shot sent her into the title match once again.
The final will be her third. And if she wins, there will be nothing lucky about it. Nothing less than hard work has seen Li Na cut down on her errors and make the most of her attacking game. It is a game that few will bet against her executing to trophy winning standard come Saturday.
D. Cibulkobv beat A. Radwanska 6-1, 6-2
Dominika Cibulkova raced through her semi-final meeting with Radwanska with such alarming speed, many of us were still dreaming of Radwanska’s beautiful display versus Azarenka by the time Cibulkova led by a set and two breaks. Unfortunately for Radwanska, that note perfect performance had only happened the day before, and if the emotional and physical energy had not taken it out of her, then her Slovakian opponent was certainly going to.
The very picture of energy, desire and confidence, Cibulkova struck the ball with so much pace and depth that short balls came her way aplenty. The speed with which she stepped up to them and hit them away for winners was a sight to marvel at. In a flurry of winners, 21 of them, Dominika moved through to her first Major final. There she will have to overcome the nerves that come with the territory but if anyone is in the mood to take on nervy first times and win, it is the Slovakian.
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