In the Australian Open, China’s Li Na is now just one win away from her second career Grand Slam crown. The 2011 French Open winner was taking on Maria Sharapova in Thursday’s semi-final round in Melbourne for what, most expected heading in, would be a back and forth battle. However as this one played out, it became clear that the sixth seeded Chinese was simply too much on this day for the second seeded Russian.
Both Sharapova and Li had played well throughout their events. Sharapova had only dropped nine games in total coming in but Li came out absolutely on fire and in control.
Keeping Sharapova pinned to the baseline and jumping on her second serve, as Sharapova battled her serve throughout...Li raced out to a 4-1 lead.
In contrast, Sharapova had a tough time with Li’s serve on the day, but she did pick up a break in the next game to bring it back to 4-2.
But the world No. 2 was broken again in the very next game, leaving Li with a chance to close out the first. And she would do just that, blasting a cross-court forehand to take set one 6-2.
The temperature would start to rise in Melbourne, hovering in the mid-30’s, but teh Chinese would keep her cool.
Sharapova had a chance to take control of the second early on, as she brought up a breakpoint while leading 1-love...but the Chinese would hold firm...cancelling out the Russian’s advantage to remain on serve.
It would stay that way until the fifth game of the second when Li, was able to seize control. Sharapova, smacking a backhand long to fall behind 3-2.
And although Sharapova would have her chances to get back into it. Li would not give up a break in the second, and she picked up a late one to take set two 6-2.
Li, moving on to the final of the Aussie Open with a surprisingly easy 6-2, 6-2 win over Maria Sharapova.