China to tackle France in Hopman Cup opener

Written by: Staff on 19th December 2011

China to tackle France in Hopman Cup opener

Na Li of China reacts during her match against Samantha Stosur of Australia during their at the WTA Championships tennis tournament in Istanbul, Turkey on 28 October 2011. EPA/TOLGA BOZOGLU |

(Courtesy of ITF visit itftennis.com for more news)

Roland Garros champion Li Na will kickstart the Hyundai Hopman Cup as China takes on France on the opening day of the team event which starts at the Burswood Dome in Perth on 31 December.

World No. 5 Na faces a fellow Top 10 opponent in No. 9 Marion Bartoli in what will prove to be a critical clash if the Asian nation is to pull off an upset against No. 2 seed France.

Honours are even between Bartoli and Na in two previous matches, but should the Frenchwoman prevail it will mean Richard Gasquet could clinch victory in the men’s singles match against 20-year-old Wu Di.

The two men have never met, but a ranking discrepancy of 403 places means the odds are stacked firmly in the favour of world No. 19 Gasquet.

The hosts, Australia, are in action on the second day against No. 3 seed Spain, with a mouthwatering clash between home favourite Lleyton Hewitt and Fernando Verdasco the pick of the matches.

For more information visit www.hopmancup.com

Topics: Li Na