Tampilkan postingan dengan label Schiavone. Tampilkan semua postingan
Tampilkan postingan dengan label Schiavone. Tampilkan semua postingan

Allez Na Li!

"You're as young as you feel," an old proverb says. 29 years old. In life you're young. In tennis you might get close by the end of your career. And isn't it too bad to end a long career, having been near the best players in the world and without winning your Grand Slam? Especially when your mind is of a 29-years-old player, but your hearts beats as the one of a 20-year-old.

Na Li, China. At the age of 6 she tries her chance in badminton. Strange thing: her coach tells her she is not good enough for badminton, but is very good for tennis. She follows his advice and becomes a tennis player. She ends her career in 2002. She studies at the Huazhong University of Science and Technology. In 2004 she returns in the circuit. On the 4th June 2011 she becomes the first Grand Slam winner from Asia, on the red dusty Court Philippe Chatrier from Paris, everything after victories over two Grand Slam champions, Maria Sharapova in semifinals and none other than last year's Roland Garros winner, Francesca Schiavone.

The typical Oriental beauty and suavity against the Italian killer. Two completely different styles, a single goal. Contrariwise many people's expectations , Na Li was in control the whole match, maybe excepting like two or three games in the second set. In the second set tie-break, a categorical 7-0 from the Chinese. It's over. Na Li is on the ground, full of clay, with a huge smile on her face.

The finalist and the winner receive their trophies and China's National Anthem is played. That's right. Na Li, the little Asian girl, is the one making not only China, but the whole Asia proud.

Match of the Day: Schiavone - Kuznetsova

Good news? History has been written in the seventh day of Australian Open. Svetlana Kuznetsova from Russia and Italy's Francesca Schiavone played the longest women's match in a Grand Slam, a delightful match for any tennis lover. Bad news? The Russian was not the winner. Schiavone won in three sets, 6-3, 1-6, 16-14, and 4 hours and 44 minutes.

The decisive set lasted for three hours and Francesca saved six match points. This is the third three-sets victory in the tournament for the sixth favourite. Schiavone's QF opponent will be the top seed Caroline Wozniacki.

"I think she played good on match points," Kuznetsova said after the match. "I don't think I had easy ball any time, she was serving it all the time. It's hard to say. The match could go either way so many times. I mean, I think it just was really a day of Francesca. We both fighted so hard the whole match, and the important moments she just played better."

Don't worry, Sveta! There's always a next time!