The first women's singles match on Hisense Arena included the 2011 runner-up and this year's 5th seed Li Na. Coming off a good and almost great Sydney International, the first ever Chinese Grand Slam singles winner was charged with ridding the tournament of Ksenia Pervak from Kazakhstan. For the second successive match here the left hander was the underdog. However Pervak began with a purpose that matched the Roland Garros champion for the first handful of games. The tennis of a high standard comprised hard hitting ground strokes mainly from the back of the court and the court coverage by the two was particularly attractive. Although well received, the coverage did have to be removed, and so the crocheted quilt made its departure before any more balls were struck.
After five holds of service, the first twist occurred with Li Na stepping up the pace and pouring on the heat. The double barreled cliche was too much for Ksenia, and she lost her serve. Tracker dogs immediately were sent out to recover the serve, and in the meantime Li Na lost her serve as well. A second team of dogs was dispatched, and emergency teams were concerned when a third successive serve was lost, again by a careless Pervak.
At 5-3 Li Na used some of her reserves of Grand Slam winning nerve to safely serve out the set 6-3. It had been entertaining stuff with plenty of cross court passing shots and down the line winners - far more precise than the previous match.
Pervak found herself immediately in trouble in the second set, and a sprinkling of double faults only accentuated her predicament. Up a break, Li Na did what Del Potro failed to achieve and that was to keep her opponent down. A number of interesting rallies merely punctuated slightly a steam roller ride from Li Na right over the top of a gallant but ultimately flat Kazakhstani.
Li Na triumphant and not just a little impressive with her 6-3 6-1 display.
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