This article first appeared in the Mar/Apr 2013 issue of World Gaming magazine.
Once again, it was Li Na proudly flying the flag for China at the Australian Open tennis tournament. Li made her second Australian Open final but once again just missed out on the ultimate prize.
Li Na capped off an incredible Australian Open going down to Russian Victoria Azarenka in one of the most memorable finals ever played.
Azarenka, to her credit, overcame a somewhat hostile crowd to make it back-to-back titles in the first Grand Slam of the year.
Both players consistently broke each other’s serve during a game that went right down to the wire. Li Na won the first set, but rolled her ankle early in the second, necessitating a medical time-out. She eventually lost the second set and was looking good in the third and final set until her ankle let her down once more, causing her to fall awkwardly, hitting her head in the process.
I blacked out for a few seconds and couldn’t see anything. When I came to, the trainer was asking me to look at her finger. – Li Na
Li Na battles her injuries valiantly during the Australian Open final
The courage demonstrated by Li was admirable, and if she continues with this kind of form, she will eventually earn another Grand Slam victory to add to her 2011 French Open title. She is one of the most liked players on the circuit and in the post match interview still had enough class to show her humorous side, saying, “I thought I was on a tennis court – not a hospital!”
