Tag: Li

MELBOURNE - An inspired Novak Djokovic shocked defending champion Roger Federer in the Australian Open semi-finals on Thursday to leave the Swiss without a grand slam title for the first time in eight years. The third-seeded Serbian overpowered the four-times champion 7-6 7-5 6-4 in three hours of intense, high quality tennis to reach a second Melbourne final, where he will play Briton Andy Murray or Spaniard David Ferrer.
Although Federer and Djokovic both cautioned against the

MELBOURNE - Chinese tennis star Li Na said the early passing of her father taught her a significant lesson about the value of hard work that has held her in good stead in her playing career. Writing in The Age newspaper, she also said some young professionals aren't reaching their potential because they are being spoilt by over-indulgent mentors. The world number 11 advanced to the quarter-finals of the Australian Open on Sunday, with a straight sets win over 21-year-old Belarusian

SYDNEY - China's Li Na upset two-time champion Kim Clijsters on Friday to win the Sydney International title and her fourth career WTA crown. Eighth seed Li recovered from going behind 0-5 in the opening set to rally for a convincing 7-6 (7/3), 6-3 victory in 1hr 30min.
It was her second WTA title in Australia after winning the Gold Coast event in 2008 and last year she was a surprise semi-finalist at the Australian Open. Li will stay at her 11th ranking despite the win, while

SYDNEY - Two-time champion Kim Clijsters will play China's Li Na in the final of the Sydney International after a marathon three-set victory on Thursday. Clijsters struggled early before storming home in a final set tiebreaker to overcome unseeded Russian Alisa Kleybanova, 4-6, 6-3, 7-6 (7/1) in 2hr 39min. The Belgian third seed will now take on Li, who earlier wore down Serbian qualifier Bojana Jovanovski 7-6 (7/5), 6-3 in 1hr 40min. Clijsters, 27, who won here in 2003 and 2007, will

HONG KONG - Venus Williams crashed in Hong Kong Friday as her preparations for the Australian Open were marred by a second straight-sets defeat in as many days.
Chinese ace Li Na dominated the seven-time Grand Slam winner in every department for the 6-3, 7-6 victory, helping Asia-Pacific to draw level with the Americas in the silver final of Hong Kong's World Team Challenge Friday. "I enjoy playing here, I love the fans her supporting me. I'm looking forward to coming back next

GUANGZHOU: Li Na led China to their first Asian Games women's tennis team gold on home ground on Tuesday with a crushing victory over defending champions Taiwan.
Peng Shuai saw off Chang Kai-chen 6-3, 7-5 before world number 11 Li, who is only playing the team event here, over-powered Chan Yung-jan 6-1, 6-1 to secure the title.
"At the last Asian Games in Doha in 2006 we lost in the quarter-finals to Uzbekistan, so this time we were fully prepared," said Li, a semi-finalist