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By Erik Gudris/Saturday, January 25, 2014
After reaching three finals in the last four years, China’s
Li Na claimed her first ever Australian Open title over
Dominika Cibulkova.
Photo Credit: Corleve
Li Na can finally call herself the
Australian Open champion.
2014 proved to be Li’s time after the Chinese star reached the
final round of the Grand Slam event on three occasions in the
last four years. Having saved a match point earlier in the
tournament, she entered this year’s final as the favorite.
Standing in her way was No. 20 seed Dominika
Cibulkova of Slovakia competing in her first ever
major final. Cibulkova got there with multiple upset victories,
including two over top five players in Maria
Sharapova and Agnieszka Radwanska.
Though each woman entered Rod Laver Arena beaming with smiles,
early nerves were apparent from both once the opening set got
underway. As expected, the match would largely be decided on
Li’s racquet as she tried to keep her winner count high and her
errors low. Cibulkova’s goal was to stay close with Li and make
the No. 5 seed think about what was on the line.
Li got off to a great start by breaking Cibulkova in the
opening game. But with Li serving at one stage at only 13
percent first serves, that allowed Cibulkova to eventually
break back and level the set at 3-all. The problems continued
for Li as her forehand began leaking multiple errors. A now
inspired Cibulkova found herself a game away from the set at
5-4.
The ragged contest from both lurched on as Li broke right back
thanks to her forehand that started producing winners just when
she needed it. Cibulkova, still not backing down, found a
forehand winner of her own and earned yet another break.
Mercifully for both, a tiebreak was needed to decide it. Li
stepped up her aggression and took hold of the breaker with
pinpoint returns and winners.
After over an hour, Li finally pocketed the first set 7-6(3).
From there, Li looked like a completely different player. With
the tension of the first set over, she settled into her shots
that left Cibulkova trying to cope with their pace. Li relaxed
even more after going up an early break. Now she was starting
to look like the player who cruised through the later rounds of
the event.
Swinging with more confidence especially on her favorite
backhand wing that alone produced 17 winners, she soon jumped
out to a commanding 5-0 lead. Cibulkova competed well for
someone in her first major final. But the moment Li had waited
for was finally here. A mistimed forehand from Cibulkova on a
second match point for Li ended the quest.
A relieved looking Li celebrated the 7-6(3), 6-0 victory and
with it her first ever Australian Open title.
During the trophy ceremony, Li delivered what could be one of
the funnier acceptance speeches in recent memory.
“You know, it was my first Grand Slam finals and I’m just proud
with the way I handle it,” Cibulkova said later. “You know, I
just went on the court. I wanted to play my best tennis. It
wasn’t easy against her because she was playing extremely well.
So I’m quite happy.”
Li, who won the French Open in 2011, said that she was better
prepared to handle the moment and aftermath of winning a Grand
Slam title.
“Yeah, because, you know, first time to win the French Open I
really didn’t prepare for that. I didn’t know what I should do
after the win. Also nobody tell me what I should do. I think
now is different because I prepare to win the Grand Slam. Also
Carlos (Rodriguez), he has a lot of experience because before
he was coaching for Justine Henin. How do you say, we will talk
about what we should do, of course. Because this time I was
think about if I win or if I lose, what kind of life I have. So
for sure it’s different than last time.”
For Li, the future is wide open for her now. When asked at her
press conference what the Chinese letters on her t-shirt said,
she simply replied, “My heart has no limits.”
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