Chinas Li Na Takes WTA Gold Coast Crown
Posted on January 6, 2008
Li Na showed 2008 will be yet another step forward for Chinese tennis, on Saturday beating Belarusian teenager Victoria Azarenka 4-6, 6-3, 6-4 in the final of the Australian Women's Hardcourt in Gold Coast, Australia.
Na missed the entire second half of the 2007 season with a fractured rib.
Azarenka led by a set and a break but could not close out Na, who won seven of the next eight games to win the second set, then went up a break 3-1 in the third before securing the championship.
"I am so surprised I won," Na said. "I had four months off without playing, staying in bed with my rib injury; I don't know how I've been able to come back like this. My team told me this morning that I had already had a good week and I may as well go out and try and win one more."
It was the second career title for Na after Guangzhou in 2004.
The loss dropped Azarenka to 0-3 in career finals.
"I wouldn't say it slipped away today. She played great, especially in the second and third sets," the Belarusian teen said. "This tournament has been great preparation for me for the Australian Open. Though I lost today, I gained a lot of confidence this week and I think I learned a lot."
|
|
|
Quick Links
