Caroline Wozniacki, Li Na to meet in Australian Open semifinal

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Wilson Blade 9

Top seed Caroline Wozniacki advanced to the Australian Open semifinals by taking out Francesca Schiavone, thus ensuring to remain on top of the WTA rankings. After winning the longest match in women’s Grand Slam history, Schiavone still had fuel in her tank and took the first set from Wozniacki 6-3. The Italian even earned a lead in the second set, 3-1, but from then on Wozniacki won five games in a row and came through 3-6 6-3 6-3.

Wozniacki will next play ninth seed Li Na, player who defeated her in the fourth round last year and later made big news by reaching her first Grand Slam semifinal. This year Li managed to repeat the feat, by beating Andrea Petkovic 6-2 6-4 in the quarters, and in quite a fashion – Li hasn’t dropped more than six games in any of her matches at the Australian Open. Moreover, she came to the tournament without losing a match this season, which included a Sydney title earned by a victory over Kim Clijsters in the final.

Besides last year’s Australian Open win over Wozniacki, Li has another 2010 victory over the Dane, again in Australia, in Sydney. Wozniacki defeated Li once, in Luxembourg, three years ago. Therefore, Li leads their head-to-head record 2-1.

7 COMMENTS

  1. If Li continues this way, she’ll crush Caroline. I’m not a fan of Caroline’s game and this year she hasn’t impressed me at all. She had an easy draw, and if Francesca weren’t so tired, she would have defeated her in straights.

  2. Some please tell me where I can find out when Wozniacki and Li Na will play? What day and time? I have searched all websites that I know and none of them clearly list the play time for showing in the States.

    Thanks

  3. I’m rooting for Li Na, too.Wozniacki hit 13 winners in a match that lasted oer 2 hours.That’s not impressive.I’m FAR MORE impressed by amazing Schiavone.This woman is 30 years old,she 1.66 m (5f. 5in.),played epic four hour 45 minutes match in the previous round,and still managed to hit 46 winners past Wozniacki.Of course there were a lot of errors but still…
    Li Na is another excelent player with good attacking game.She didn’t come to the AO to look nice and promote herself.She looks like woman on mission.I really,really hope she won’t choke in semis bcz I want her to win so badly.

  4. Li is playing impressively, has improved a lot… Unfortunately I haven’t seen the match between Francesca and Caroline (damn exams!), but I was curious about the statistics:

    Francesca 41 winners / 46 errors
    Caroline 14 winners / 15 errors

    I believe that these numbers make it clear how they are different as players, I’m personally not a big fan of Caroline’s game, but it’s indisputable that she has a great defense, in the press room she was teased by some journalists, was asked if it did not seem strange to be number one in the world where statistics say that are always her opponent to take the initiative during the matches, she replied that what matters is winning matches 🙂

  5. Cathy, I’m sorry for my late reply, I see your comment only now. Such things you can always see at the official website of the Australian Open, under order of play. Just make sure you calculate the time difference well.

  6. And I like that Caroline’s statement. It’s true. As long as she’s defeating a player, she’s doing things right. Her problem is that she’s not defeating the greatest names… but I’m not returning to that topic. 😛

  7. I also like the reply she gave the journalists. There are only two statistics which make a real difference: a win and a loss. Nothing else does. Caroline often gets a little praise compared to her opponents. But, in the end of the day why should it bother her two much if she leaves the court victorious despite producing few winners.
    Her opponents are more creative on the court but she’s the one who is more precise- which is what often decides the outcome.

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