Two Sony Ericsson WTA Tour legends will square off for the Australian Open title this Saturday night in prime time, after both won their semifinal matches on Thursday, albeit in far, far different fashion.Serena Williams, an 11-time Grand Slam champion, gave herself a shot at her 12th with a tense 76(4) 76(1) victory over China's Li Na. Li could have folded earlier in both sets but pushed Williams each time, saving two set points in the first set before surrendering the first set and four match points in the second.
"What qualities doesn't she have? She has everything from a really good serve to a great backhand and forehand," Williams said of Li. "She's a fighter."
"I was a little bit sad to be stopped in the semifinals, but it was a good day for my tennis. I played well today," said Li, who was playing in her first Grand Slam semifinal. "It was the first time two Chinese players played in the semifinals of a Grand Slam. It was good for both of us, and also good for Chinese tennis.
"If the children saw this, they would be more confident, and think that maybe someday they can do it too. It was an exciting day."
Justine Henin, a seven-time Grand Slam champion, followed the two-hour, two-minute first semifinal with a 51-minute blowout, routing the second Chinese player in the final four, Zheng Jie, 61 60. Henin had negative winners-to-errors differentials in her first five rounds; against the scrappy Zheng she hit 23 winners to just 14 unforced errors.
"I knew it could be a dangerous match. Grand Slam semifinals are always special. I knew I had to be very focused, very concentrated. I did my job perfectly," Henin said. "Sometimes you have big surprises, like at Wimbledon in 2007. I knew there was an opportunity for me. It's more than a dream. I'm so happy to play against Serena because if I want to win another Grand Slam, I'll have to beat the best in the world. And that's the biggest challenge I can get."
"I think she played really well today. It was a surprise for me. It didn't look like she was playing in just her second tournament," Zheng said. "It was very exciting for me to be in the semifinals here though. It gives me a lot of belief, a lot of confidence. And it's good news I will be back in the Top 20."
Williams ranks No.1 and will stay in that spot no matter what happens in the final; Henin, who came out of retirement and returned to the Tour at the start of the year, is and will still be unranked after the tournament (this is the second of her comeback - a player needs points from three events to get a ranking).
Williams and Henin have played 13 times before, with Williams leading, 7-6. They are 2-2 in finals; Henin is 4-2 in Grand Slams. They have never played in a Grand Slam final.
"I definitely think of her as a rival. We bring out the best in each other. We just play our hearts out. That's what creates a good rivalry," Williams said. "Justine is a little more calm than me, but she's quietly intense. You have to be at the match to see how intense she is. She says 'Allez' a lot, it's kind of fun."
Thursday, January 28, 2010
Singles - Semifinals
(1) Serena Williams (USA) d. (16) Li Na (CHN) 76(4) 76(1)
(WC) Justine Henin (BEL) d. Zheng Jie (CHN) 61 60
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