Li Na

Li Na (李娜) just made another history in clinching the trophy of Australian Tennis Open at Melbourne.  She did a convincing win by a strong baseline drives, both forehand & backhand.  she also hit the ball deep and near the base line with precision placement.   The opponent in the final match, Dominika Cibulkova playing like Li Na also looked impressive.  Ultimately the consistency of Li Na's baseline two-handed backhand drives determined the outcome.  The score is 7-5 and 6-0.  In the 2nd set, Cibulkova should have changed tactics or pace when she was trailing in two breaks.  Perhaps she didn't equip with second gear or ability to raise one notch higher in her play.  This is the first Chinese woman has ever achieved the feat of two grand slams since the tennis open era.  Kim Clijsters had the same playing style and dominated the tennis world in the early 2000's.  Li Na's killer weapon is this two-handed backhand.  He uses it to hit the ball in pace from high to low with wide angle that pulls the ball out of her opponent.  It is very hard if not impossible for a one-handed backhand to achieve.  The two-handed backhand can also drive the ball from low to high to clear the net easily with top spin.  Li Na very seldom uses the under spin even when she is in defensive situation.  One other thing is unique.  Li Na doesn't grunt or make any noise while she strikes the ball.  This is rare for women tennis players these days.  The notorious noise makers these days are Maria Sharapova & Victoria Azarenka.  When they play in a tennis court, you feel as if you are in a zoo watching two birds in a shouting match.  This makes Li Na the more outstanding and unique player.

As I mentioned in my last essay (June 6, 2011) of the blog, one area Li Na should improve is the serving speed. She seems making very little improvement on this.  Her first serve in has been low in percentage.  If she can serve like Serena Williams, she will be a formidable opponent to reckon with.  Since she was 29 when she made it in Roland Garros, some people kind of think she may be a one-hit wonder.  However, it only takes her two and half year to clinch another grand slam at age of 31.  This is impressive as two major trophies are generally enough for enshrinement in the International Tennis Hall of Fame. One other interesting data, the last 30-something to win the Australian Open women's title was Margaret Court in 1973.  Li Na is making some history here.  

Li Na didn't have to face a player ranked in the Top 20 en route to the final, opening with wins over the two youngest players in the tournament, then saving a match point in her third-round win over Lucie Safarova, who was a fraction away from causing a major upset.  Let's not forget the two inches by which Lucie Safarova's forehand on match point missed the line in the third round. Two inches closer, and Safarova would have knocked Li Na out of the tournament. Since that scare, Li played at a level that ranged from exceptional to passable, winning nine straight sets, and claiming her second Grand Slam.  Is it lucky for Li Na?  Yes and no depend on how you look at it.  It is lucky to avoid top ranking players in the first few rounds, but to save a match point from an opponent needs nerve and gut.  This may indicate that Li Na's has gained mental toughness in her play.

Li Na's speech is kind of interesting, funny but odd.  First she thanked her agent for making her rich, then her coach Carlos Rodriguez and then her husband, 姜山, her former coach and constant traveling companion.  "Thanks for him give up everything just traveling with me to be my hitting partner, fix the drinks, fix the racket — so thanks a lot, you are a nice guy," she told 姜山 in a rare public compliment, pausing for the laughter. "Also you are so lucky (to) find me."  Wow, she was so blunt & cocky.  When you are winning, perhaps you can say anything and get away with it. She mentioned nothing about China & her fans there although more than 10 million Chinese watched the final match on TV.  It is said Li Na returned China with low key emotion as she seemed showing little response to her fan's enthusiasm & welcome.  It is interesting to know that her name represents the first two elements in the first column of chemical periodic table, alkali metals.  They are highly reactive metals.  Li Na seems to fit in this family nicely, caustic & reactive.

Li Na's T shirt feature  '心敢比天高',  “Dare to aim higher than the sky.”  '心敢比天高' doesn't sound like a good Chinese idiom.  It will be nice to find a single Chinese character to convey the meaning.  Li Na's success in France and Australia definitely will have positive effect and influence on tennis sport in China.