Tuesday January 22, 2013

Sizzling-hot Radwanska wary of Li Na threat

AUSTRALIAN OPEN
MELBOURNE PARK, MELBOURNE (Jan 14-27)

AGNIESZKA Radwanska is the hottest player on the women’s tour this year but is not underestimating the threat posed by Li Na as she bids for a place in the Australian Open semi-finals.

Poland’s top player, seeded four at Melbourne Park, beat the Chinese number one 6-3, 6-4 at the lead-up Sydney International tournament, an event she went on to win.

It followed her victory in Auckland the previous week which coupled with her run to the last eight here gives her an enviable streak of 13 unbeaten matches without dropping a set, unmatched by anyone else so far.

Li Na fought hard in the Sydney semi-final, but errors at crucial times ultimately cost her dearly.

Radwanska, though, is wary of the Chinese star as she searches for her first Grand Slam title, with the Wuhan native also carrying solid momentum into their showdowntoday.

“It’s always tough against her,” Radwanska said of the sixth seed, who made the Melbourne final in 2011 and was a semi-finalist in 2010.

“She’s always playing very solid tennis. I think I really have to play aggressive against her, definitely serving good, really playing my 100% best tennis. Otherwise I’m not going to win.”

Li Na swept impressively into today’s showdown by beating Germany’s 18th seed Julia Goerges 7-6 (8-6), 6-1 as she targets her second Grand Slam title.

Li Na, who became Asia’s first Grand Slam champion at the 2011 French Open, said: “Really looking forward to the quarter-final,” she said.

“For one and a half years, I always lose in the fourth round. So for me it was very important (to win the fourth round match).” – AFP

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Tuesday January 22, 2013

Sizzling-hot Radwanska wary of Li Na threat