 LI, TRIUMPHANT IN SHENZHEN, OVERCOMES ZAKOPALOVA IN BATTLE FOR TITLE
Chan Sisters Win Doubles Crown, Defeating Buryachok and Solovieva
Opening the finals of the Shenzhen Longgang Gemdale Open with long grinding rallies, so precious was every point that Li Na (CHN) and Klara Zakopalova (CZE) were lunging for every ball. With the sun restored to the stadium, Li prevailed in a 6-3, 1-6, 7-5 in a tense battle for the title.
Li strode the baseline in the first set, slinging groundstrokes from corner to corner to get the early break at love for a 2-0 lead, but the Czech out-steadied some wild swings from Li to break back. Both players held, and after saving two breakpoints in the fifth game, a disciplined Li controlled her aggression to break for 4-2. Avoiding the temptation to go for the big winner, Li built the points as she waited for the right ball to attack. Striking a stunning forehand winner down the line for 5-2, Li finally exploded “Come on!” Two games later, she had the set in hand.
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