For the previous Grand Slam I didn’t include Li Na in my poll and she won the title, and now that I included her she lost in the second round! I know, she didn’t lose to just anyone, she lost to Sabine Lisicki who won the Birmingham title on grass in the lead-up to Wimbledon, but still, my polls has been ruined too soon. 🙂
Anyway, the world No.62 Lisicki, a wildcard at the tournament, lost the first set, battled back to win the second and saved two match points in the decider when serving at 3-5 15-40. The German fired two service winners to bring the game to deuce and managed to hold serve with two aces. After a series of breaks Lisicki held for 7-6 and then broke the fourth-ranked Li to win the match 3-6 6-4 8-6.
The 8-0 win-loss record this grass season must be very rewarding to Lisicki, whose 2010 was marred by left ankle injury.
It has been such a long and hard road to come back from my injury. I had to start from zero. It was terrible. I literally had no muscles in my left calf after seven weeks on crutches. I had to learn how to walk again. I was heartbroken not to be here last year. It was a very, very long road back – but that makes these moments right now sweeter.
Lisicki’s opponent in the third round will be Misaki Doi, who is having a greatly successful tournament. The 133rd-ranked Japanese upset seed No.30 Bethanie Mattek Sands in the first round and then the 2008 Wimbledon semifinalist Zheng Jie in the second. (source: WTA Tour, photos: Ralf Reinecke, © Neal Trousdale)
I love Sabine Lisicki, she’s my second fave after Serena and that serve!! that serve!!! just lethal
Bummed for Li though, bad luck with the draw
It is time for Wimbledon and the WTA to either go exactly by rankings or make the seeds fair for all. My friend, Sabine, should have been seeded if they are determined not to go by the rankings. What happened to the rules for injured players once they return?
Its sad to see that Li NA went out so early.Although the good part is to see that finally after Steffi Graf, there is young upcoming talent coming up. 17 aces in a match, the way she played at the pressure points was just amazing.
It is a shame she has no seed but at least it will be a good test of how good she actually is right now.
She has a great draw ahead…Sabine should go far into the tournament…
I think Sabine is very talented and am a big fan but she’s ranked #62 therefore how’s she going to be seeded? The All England Club did the right thing by giving her the wild card in recognition of her good recent efforts, especially her Birmingham win.
No doubt her continued good performances will soon improve her rankings to where she will be seeded.