So Li Na becomes the first Chinese player to win a Grand Slam singles title. She beat defending champion, Scary Schia, in straight sets, 6-3 7-6; a performance full of mature play, quick thinking, class shots and nerveless resolve. She was imperious in the first set against a nervy Schia and looked on course for a straightforward victory when 4-2 up in the second before she visibly tightened and allowed Schiavone back into the game. That's not to say that Schia didn't deserve it; she'd been doggedly working her way into the match and came good as Li tightened. Li, however, conquered her no doubt fluttering nerves (thinking of the estimated 330 million possible viewers in China alone, perhaps?) to take the set to a tie break, which she then completely dominated and won to love to complete her historic victory. Is this the beginning of an Asian, and more specifically, Chinese, uprising in tennis?
A stat I enjoy - Li and Schia's combined age yesterday was 60 years and 79 days (Li: 29 years and 98 days; Schia: 30 years and 346 days), making it the oldest women's Slam final since 1998.
Meanwhile Roger and Rafa are on court, Rafa having just won a hard-fought first set 7-5. Fed was up 5-2 and had a set point but GoNads doesn't know when to give up and won 5 straight games to clinch the first set, much to the Fed's disgust. He's now floundering in the 2nd set, with a break and more break points against him. He looks peeved...
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