MELBOURNE— China’s Li Na sent Maria Sharapova crashing out of the Australian Open with a 6-2, 6-2 thrashing in searing heat to advance to her second Melbourne Park final.
Report by Reuters
Serbian world number one Novak Djokovic crushed Spanish fourth seed David Ferrer in straight sets to storm into the final of the Australian Open yesterday. Djokovic was at a different level to Ferrer, winning a lopsided semi-final 6-2, 6-2, 6-1 in 1hr 29min and will face either Roger Federer or Andy Murray in Sunday’s final.
In-form Sharapova had conceded only nine games leading into the match but was picked apart by sixth seed Li, who attacked the Russian’s serve and overpowered her with a barrage of power hitting from the baseline.
Li, who lost to Kim Clijsters in the 2011 final, will play Victoria Azarenka or Sloane Stephens for her second grand slam title.
“Everyone could be nervous in the final,” Li said courtside after completing the rout in one hour and 33 minutes. “I have to enjoy (the) tennis. Nothing better. Looking forward to the final.”
Questions over Li’s mental strength have dogged her throughout her career, but she was composure personified yesterday, weathering a fierce challenge on her serve in the second set and coolly closing the semi-final out on the second match-point when Sharapova found the net.
Brimming with confidence, the Chinese late-bloomer will be hard to beat in the final at Melbourne Park, where she has consistently played some of her best grand slam tennis.
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“I think she played a really great match, she was much more aggressive than I was and dictating the play,” Sharapova told reporters. “There”s no reason why she can’t (win the final).”
The 2011 French Open champion Li has become known for clawing her way back into matches after allowing opponents a head-start, but the 30-year-old Chinese was on the offensive from the start.
Asia’s first grand slam single champion unleashed a searing backhand winner down the line to pressure Sharapova at deuce in the first game and broke the Russian when she prevailed in a fierce baseline skirmish.
Sharapova, struggling to breach Li’s defences with her serve, smacked a huge backhand return to claw back a break but was broken again when she netted.
