Li Na Has A Big Following In the Australian Open Final

Written by: Bob Larson Tennis on 24th January 2014

Li Na Has A Big Following In the Australian Open Final

epaselect epa04037375 Li Na of China returns to Eugenie Bouchard of Canada during their semifinal match of the Australian Open Grand Slam tennis tournament in Melbourne, Australia, 23 January 2014. EPA/NAGI MADE |

The anomaly in national support from the two contestants in tomorrow’s Australian Open women’s final will be overwhelming.

Li Na will have 1.3 billion fellow Chinese behind her while Dominika Cibulkova can only number 5.4 million fellow Slovaks. Nevertheless the world no.24 still insists being the first ever player from her country to contest a Grand Slam final: “It’s massive.”

Cibulkova, the shortest ever Grand Slam finalist at just 5ft 1ins, was too overpowering for fifth seeded Agnieszka Radwanska in the 6-1,6-2 semi-final rout, pummeling 21 winners past the Pole who in turn committed 24 unforced errors.

Now Cibulkova will try to overcome a 20 places ranking deficit against her final opponent who will be appearing in a third Australian Open singles final. And she maintains she will draw inspiration from one of her best friends, retired but still reigning Wimbledon champion Marion Bartoli who is in Melbourne fulfilling television commitments.

“When she won Wimbledon, I knew everything was possible,” said Cibulkova. “She was a big inspiration and always working so hard for what she achieved. After my semifinal she came into the gym to see me. She hugged me, and we were both crying. She was so happy for me.”

Now Cibulkova insists she will employ the same tactics against Li Na as she has throughout the unexpected run to the final that has only seen her drop one set. “‘Even if I made mistakes, I knew I had to go out there and go for my shots,’’ said the player from Bratislava, who prior to this year had a 7-6 record at Melbourne Park and had never progressed beyond the fourth round.

She had previously been to the semis of a Grand Slam event just once before, five years ago as a 19-year-old at the French Open. “I had so many thoughts in my head but just focused on my game. I can’t believe I’m in a final,” said Cibulkova.

“I was just going ball after ball, game after game. I think that’s how the big wins come. I was doing everything right. I was going for my shots. I was just doing everything perfect.”

The only set she has dropped in the tournament was to Maria Sharapova in the round of 16 and she has the belief to be able to topple a proven champion like French Open winner Li Na.

“You need to be 100% sure you can do it and yes I am,” said Cibulkova. “Even if it turns out a different way, now I know I can do it.”

Topics: 10sballs, Agnieszka Radwanska, Australian Open, Dominka Cibulkova, Li Na, Maria Sharapova, Marion Bartoli, Sports, Tennis, Tennis News