Istanbul Championships Final: Na v. Serena

[Sundaymorningguy]

Finally Serena makes Li pay for those serves.

 

[tenisplayrla08]

Serena looks to be getting everything going, physically that is. And as she continues to warm up her shots will get even better. And it could make Li lose all her confidence and just go off and lose everything. But I really hope not. I want her to keep her level up and for Serena to have to beat that Li. I don't want it to be given to her. Plus I'm still not totally convinced Serena has enough in the tank to fight with a Li Na playing really well through a third set.

 

[honey1269]

Li Ni is likely to be tired too. Duh! She has played the same number of matches as Serena!

 

[Sundaymorningguy]

My gut is telling me Serena is losing this match today. I hope it goes 3 sets.

 

[Correspondent Kiu]

Li gets the first set 6-2

Serena makes a comeback and breaks early and gets ahead 3-0 in the second set. Li breaks back to even things up, we are back on serve at 3-3 in the second set.
Serena holds her serve and breaks Li's serve to get ahead again 5-3
Serena to serve for the set.

 

[tenisplayrla08]

2 three game swings for Serena and one three game swing for Li (I guess I should say Na if I'm using first names). I feel more confident in Serena's ability to hang in there and win this now. But Li still doesn't appear to be going away. Of course, she can still go away at any point in a match. But if she can hang in there she's definitely still got a chance. Though I think it's a smaller chance.

 

[Sundaymorningguy]

Thank God, Serena got this to a third set for a while it looked dubious. I hope Serena can keep her focus and take the third. I won't be mad if Li were to win now knowing Serena is fighting hard now.

 

[tenisplayrla08]

Li Ni is likely to be tired too. Duh! She has played the same number of matches as Serena!

Uh.... not exactly....

At this tournament, certainly. But fatigue really does play a role when you've been going hard all year. Especially at 32. And while Serena has had a couple weeks off here and a couple weeks off there, she's still played a ton this year and she's won so much that this is her 82nd match of the year. Li is no where near that many. This is Li's 58th match of the year.

 

[tenisplayrla08]

Li may not have the Serena Williams serve, but you can't double fault down break point. Yes, Serena's return of serve is amazing. But you have to make her play it. But, she's shown that she can break Serena. So we'll see if she can keep this interesting.

 

[my sherona]

when in doubt see my original post ..serena goes down in defeat.

 

[Sundaymorningguy]

We shall see I am glad Serena has regrouped and proven me wrong so far.

 

[tenisplayrla08]

Ok. Well.... she's gone. It was fun to watch while it lasted. One day, she'll be able to sustain a high level against a top player. I swear it. Then again, she's 31. There aren't too many 'one day's' left.

 

[Correspondent Kiu]

when in doubt see my original post ..serena goes down in defeat.

It sure doesn't look that way!
Serena up 3-0 in the decider, breaking Li's serve twice.

 

[Sundaymorningguy]

I was thinking it but didn't want to jinx the situation. It is easier for Serena to find another level than for Li to maintain her level.

 

[tenisplayrla08]

Wow. Just awful serving. Because she's just.... not there or can't cope or whatever. Double faults and continuing the now useless serve and volley tactic. I wanted Serena to win. But I do like Li. And even if it was someone I don't like, I would want it to be competitive. She's just completely lost all ability to focus or cope or whatever.

 

[Correspondent Kiu]

Bagel is warming up!

 

[Sundaymorningguy]

Second bagel in a row she has given Li. Glad Serena turned this around and proved me wrong. Time to vacation and rework your schedule for next year.

 

[tenisplayrla08]

Well what a season. So phenomenal Serena is. 11 titles. Two slams. Only four matches lost. 2 of those losses to the world #2, a fellow grand slam winner, IN finals. Her fourth WTA Championship. Over 11 million dollars in prize money. One of the greatest seasons in history. The two grand slams that she lost, the only two tournaments that she lost at before the final, are the only blemishes. Oddly enough, those two slams are the two slams she had won at the most before this season (5 at the AO and Wimbledon).

Li just completely lost her mind. Which sadly was to be expected. It's typical for her against the top players. Still, she's had a fairly wonderful year. She's made it to #3. Despite not really winning anything. Literally, she only won the one title in Shenzhen at the beginning of the year, against nobody. The final in Australia and the final here will have been the highlights of her year.

 

[Sundaymorningguy]

She made progress in the second half of the year Li which is usually the weakest. Overall, I would say this was her most consistent year despite not winning anything of note.

 

[Sundaymorningguy]

She also got herself a better seeding for Australia which is a great slam for her.