WTA US Open 2011 Preview: Na Li vs. Simona Halep

Chinese tennis powerhouse Na Li will start off her 2011 US Open campaign against the home-favourite Simona Halep, who is ranked 53 in the world. Na Li has not done well in the US Open Series, but she can make up for these mistakes by going all the way at Flushing Meadows.

Chinese No. 1 Na Li will take on World No. 53 Simona Halep of USA in her opening encounter of the 2011 US Open, here at Flushing Medows. This year, Li has emerged as one of the giants of WTA and has proven all her critics’ wrong with her consistency and performance. Many critics had to eat their own words, who earlier termed Li as rash and irresponsible. Li does look favourite in this opening match, but Halep can take some heart from the fact that this will be a first meeting between these 2. And, the American can test the French Open champ with a trick or 2. World No. 7 Na Li of China was around, but nobody really noticed her before she won her fourth WTA title at Sydney earlier this year and then left everyone startled by finishing as a runner-up at the Aussie Open, where she lost to Kim Clijsters. With that, Li became the first Asian player to reach a final at a Grand Slam, but the best was yet to come. Li did not play in February and March, but made a tremendous progress on clay as she reached the semi-final at Rome and then went all the way to clinch the title at Roland Garros – with that, she became the first Asian contender to win a Grand Slam. Li has a very good 29-12 win-loss record this year, but the only reason to worry is that she has not done well in the US Open Series. Well, the Chinese contender can leave the past behind and starts afresh at Flushing Meadows.

Li’s opponent Halep has a poor 23-22 win-loss record this year. The American reached the third-round at Aussie Open and then second-rounds at Roland Garros and Wimbledon. Besides these exploits, she does not anything special to show in her resume in the new season. Halep has a good serve, but she does make too many unforced errors and it will be a big task for her to stop Li.