SM
Real Madrid vs AC Milan: 11 hrs 20 mins
Upcoming predictions and previews

Preview: Victoria Azarenka vs. Li Na

:Headline: Preview: Victoria Azarenka vs. Li Na: ID:65862: from db_amp
Sports Mole previews Sunday's Australian Open final between defending champion Victoria Azarenka and Li Na.

Victoria Azarenka can be crowned Australian Open champion for the second consecutive time on Sunday when she takes on Li Na in the final at Melbourne Park.

The Belarusian, who has shown gritty brilliance and fragile doubt in equal measure throughout the tournament, got through a controversial semi-final against American teenager Sloane Stephens to reach her third Grand Slam final overall.

A seemingly-calculated medical timeout in the second set allowed Azarenka to regain her composure when it appeared to be slipping and close out the match in straight sets.

A further incentive for Azarenka is that only a victory in the final would see her stay at the top of the world rankings.

While there has been the usual flurry of controversy around the champion, Li Na has been a model of cool industry during her two weeks in Melbourne.

The histrionics of old have been left in the locker room with the Chinese sixth seed showing an all-round strength to her game that has allowed her to dismantle opponents, particularly Maria Sharapova in the semi-finals.

The 29-year-old, who is likely to have most of the crowd's support inside the Rod Laver Arena, will also be desperate to shake off the 'One-Slam Wonder' tag that has followed her for nearly two years since she won the French Open in 2011.

Head-to-Head record:

Azarenka 5-4 Li

Previous best at Australian Open:

Azarenka: Winner 2012
Li: Final 2011, 2013

Route to semi-finals:

Azarenka

R1: Monica Niculescu 6-1 6-4
R2: Eleni Daniilidou 6-1 6-0
R3: Jamie Hampton 6-4 4-6 6-2
R4: Elena Vesnina 6-1 6-1
QF: Svetlana Kuznetsova 7-5 6-1
SF: Sloane Stephens 6-1 6-4

Li

R1: Sesil Karatantcheva 6-1 6-3
R2: Olga Govortsova 6-2 7-5
R3: Sorana Cirstea 6-4 6-1
R4: Julia Goerges 7-6(6) 6-1
QF: Agnieszka Radwanska 7-5 6-3
SF: Maria Sharapova 6-2 6-2

Sports Mole says: Li Na to taste Grand Slam glory again

amp_article__65862 : Database Data restored...  : 
last updated article - 2013-01-25 08:12:44:
html db last update - 2013-01-25 08:12:44 :

ex - 7200 : read : read cache amp html
Share this article now:
Recommended Next on SM
Premier League Table
TeamPWDLFAGDPTS
1Liverpool108111961325
2Manchester CityMan City1072121111023
3Nottingham ForestNott'm Forest10541147719
4Chelsea105322012818
5Arsenal105321711618
6Aston Villa105321715218
7Tottenham HotspurSpurs1051422111116
8Brighton & Hove AlbionBrighton104421714316
9Fulham104331413115
10Bournemouth104331312115
11Newcastle UnitedNewcastle104331010015
12Brentford104151920-113
13Manchester UnitedMan Utd10334912-312
14West Ham UnitedWest Ham103251319-611
15Leicester CityLeicester102441418-410
16Everton102351017-79
17Crystal Palace10145813-57
18Ipswich TownIpswich100551021-115
19Southampton10118719-124
20Wolverhampton WanderersWolves100371427-133
Scroll for more - Tap for full version


Sports Mole provides in-depth previews and predictions for every match from the biggest leagues and competitions in world football.
AL
Sign up for our FREE daily preview newsletter direct to your inbox!

Loading ...

Failed to load data.



. . . . . . . . . . . . . . .