Li stuns world no. 1 Azarenka in ThailandHua Hin, Thailand: China’s Li Na beat World Number 1 Victoria Azarenka yesterday 10-6 in a play-off after the pair shared a set each in a see-sawing invitation match in the Thai resort of Hua Hin.
Li, who became China’s first superstar tennis player after winning the 2011 French Open, took the first set 3-6, dominating the World Number One Azarenka on the hard court with her serving and groundstrokes.
Azarenka sprung to life as the hot Thai sun faded and the flood lights came on, belting a series of winners as she claimed the second set at a canter 6-2.
But the Australian Open champion, who secured the top ranking when she beat Li in October at the WTA Championships in Istanbul, stumbled in the play-off making a costly series of unforced errors while Li plugged away, probing from the baseline.
“I can beat Azarenka, I think this win makes it around the same for each of us... so we are on a similar level,” the world number 7 Li joked after the match, which ends a mixed year that saw her win just one singles title.
The Belarusian Azarenka, who flies to Brisbane from Thailand to prepare her Australian Open defence, conceded she could have been better prepared for the match -- which was her second appearance at the invitational. AFP
