Chinese star Li Na faces Clijsters in Australian Open final
Chinese Li Na made history Thursday by becoming the first Asian tennis player to reach the final of the Open Era Grand Slam tournament, which ended Australia's hopes in the world, No 1 Caroline Wozniacki.
The 28-year, half a beaten finalist in Melbourne last year, recovered to win 3-6 7-5 6-3 in two hours and 35 minutes, when she saved a match point in the second set.
Wozniacki, seeking her first Grand Slam title, leading 5-4, but Li has responded with a superb forehand along the line to escape and set up a clash with former No. 1 Kim Clijsters .
The Belgian went to the Australian Open final for the second time with a 6-3 6-3 victory over Vera Zvonareva, who will lift her over the Russian to a second place in the world rankings.
Last year, Li and his compatriot Zheng Jie is made the quarter-final result unprecedented in China, and is now looking to enjoy the experience of Saturday against the three-time U.S. Open champion Clijsters.
No male or female player in the Asian region has been reached in the final Grand Slam event since it was completely professional began in 1968.
"This is good for me, my team and a good Chinese tennis," said the ninth seed in the WTA Tour website after hitting the top of the head the second time in his career as a player since 2008: win Serena Williams over Stuttgart.
"It's good experience for my entire life, because many players play a long time, but never to the final of a Grand Slam."
20-year-old Wozniacki, who won the 2010 end of the season in the league, hopes to recover from her disappointment.
"I had a match point and I did not take it. Sometimes in tennis is a bullet that can change everything," said the Dane, a finalist at the U.S. Open 2009.
"It is very difficult to get through it. I just need to get back on the practice field and keep working hard. Hopefully I get a lot more chances."
Clijsters is in her second consecutive Grand Slam, but his first time in Melbourne after losing the 2004 final.
The 27 year-old had lost three of its last four meetings with Zvonareva, but this time led to victory in one hour and 13 minutes.
"I am very happy to raise my level," said Clijsters. "It's nice to be in the position of the last two standing and try to finish on top is the last game -. Give everything you have."
The 26-year-old Zvonareva was disappointed to fall short after making the finals in the previous two Grand Slams U.S. Open - where she lost to Clijsters - and Wimbledon.
"Just think of what to do next time if I see a player like Kim, who plays his game perfectly. What I can do to hurt them? What I can improve my game come up with something better next time ?