A practice hit for Li Na

Li Na sensationally ended 2013 at number 3 in the world and she began that year by finishing in the final here at Melbourne Park.  There is little to say she won't do something similar again, except maybe Serena Williams, but her form cannot be faulted winning her home title prior to flying in to Melbourne.

Round one is usually a standard fare straight sets win for Li Na and a qualifier from Croatia who only turned 16 last month didn't pose much of a threat to the Chinese player almost twice her age.  However the credentials for the youngster were impressive.  Ana  Konjuh won both the junior singles and doubles titles at the 2013 Australian Open so does have a liking for these surroundings.

The less said about the first few games the better because it was just a preponderance of unforced errors.  Hardly a winner hit to gain a point and the qualifier actually led 2-1.  Ana was hitting the ball with power and no fear, and Li Na had yet to settle into her rhythm.

After a massive forehand to reach 30-30 on the Li Na serve, the crowd had a real interest in the capacity of the teenager to achieve, but the capacity that began to show itself was off the racquet of the third seed as Li Na worked all parts of the court, not content with trading blows from the baseline which was the clear preference of Konjuh.

Li annoyed Ana by cutting off potentially gorgeous groundstrokes with nifty forays to the net finished off with deft touch or certainty of power with the volley that had decided to join her as one of her most potent weapons.

2-2 quickly became 3-2 and not in Ana's favour thanks in large measure to a couple of double faults - Li Na had begun to place so much pressure on the first serve that the second effort was vulnerable.

The next break of serve featured three straight out winners from the Li Na racquet and the match had turned into a high school lesson for Ana who by now was wishing she had gone shopping with her friends or to the beach where she could enjoy the sun.

The rest of the match was Li Na tidying up for the loss of no more games which is what a top player does when she has her opponent down for the count.  Take no prisoners, show no mercy, and smile when you shake hands at the end.

Li Na was impressive when she had to be and won this match 6-2 6-0, but enough signs were given by Ana Konjuh to suggest that a bright future in tennis awaits her.
What awaits Li Na is probably a semi final with Serena Williams.  Nothing that happened here leads me to think otherwise.