Martina Hingis Avoids Upset, Secures Berth in AO Quarterfinals
Posted by Aaress Lawless on Jan 21, 2007 | Print
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The string of upsets at the 2007 Australian Open ended on Monday when three-time singles champion and sixth seed Martina Hingis defeated Na Li in three tough sets.
Li, who made history at Wimbledon last season as the first female player from China to reach a Grand Slam quarterfinal, started strong against Hingis, but could not hold her momentum in the final two sets.
Her money shot is her backhand and she quickly gained the advantage over the tentative Hingis in the opening set to take the early lead 6-4.
By the beginning of the second set, Martina Hingis had figured out a way to get back in the match, and started taking advantage of Li’s weak forehand side. She grabbed an early 2-love lead, but Li responded by breaking back immediately to get back on serve.
Another break at 3-2 gave Hingis a 4-2 lead, followed by an easy hold at 5-3 to level the match.
Martina kicked off the deciding set with a tough break on Li’s serve. Li’s performance continued to slip, her unforced errors added up to sixty-nine for the match, and Martina Hingis easily held to win a spot in the quarterfinals 4-6, 6-3, 6-0.
Monday’s match marked the first time that Hingis has been tested at this year’s tournament, and she will face either Daniela Hantuchova or Kim Clijsters in the quarterfinal.
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Brant | Jan 21, 2007 | Reply
Wow! Chakvetadze has a match point… yay! Haha, I cannot root for Schnyder after she knocked out Alicia!
AND SHE’S JUST WON IT! WOOO!
Brant | Jan 21, 2007 | Reply
n there goes kimmy… yay!
hantuchova played a great second set, but Kim is just a league above!
Kim v Martina matchup… mouthwatering aha!