Li’s feet on the ground after reaching third final

Friday, 24 January 2014 00:00 - - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}

Reuters: Li Na will hope to keep her head in check and feet on the ground during her third Australian Open final after her coach Carlos Rodriguez helped calm her for a thumping victory over teenager Eugenie Bouchard in the semi-finals on Thursday. Runner-up last year and in 2011, the battle-hardened Chinese smashed the Canadian sensation 6-2 6-4 in a sun-drenched Rod Laver Arena and will battle Slovakia’s Dominika Cibulkova, the 20th seed, for the trophy.

Of all her three runs to the decider, the 2011 French Open champion has her best chance of casting off her ‘one-slam wonder’ status at the ripe age of 31. First-time nerves cost her dearly when she was overhauled by Belgian Kim Clijsters in 2011, and last year it was two unlucky tumbles on the hardcourt against Victoria Azarenka that took their toll on Asia’s first grand slam singles winner. “I think it’s the third time, so pretty close to the trophy,” said Li, who rolled her ankle against Azarenka and blacked out for a moment when she thumped her head in the second fall last year. “At least I’ll try to not fall down this time, because last year in the final I think I played well but I only can say I was unlucky because of falling down twice,” she told reporters.