Li Na will be looking to advance to her third Australian Open final when she meets 19-year-old Canadian Eugenie Bouchard on Rod Laver Arena this afternoon. Join us for live scores and commentary from 1.30pm AEDT.
This year’s Australian Open has certainly tossed up some surprising results.
Potential winners knocked from contention follow by defending champions have left the possibility of no one expected.
Betting odds have gone out the window and form no longer has any bearing. In particular the woman’s draw was thrown completely off the charts and now anything is possible.
The scene is set for our first pair of semi-finalists. They’ve come through some tough matches in the last few rounds riding a little luck along the ay.
Bouchard has captured the fans’ imagination through these two weeks. They’ve got a case of Eugenie fever it appears.
However, her rise in this grand slam shows she isn’t just here to make up pretty numbers. She’s got every intention to do well on the court. So far so good, with still more to come.
Bouchard has dropped the first set twice and still come back to win, and so far it’s proved a great strategy.
She never once looked flustered or agitated the longer matches has gone on and if anything these last two three-set matches has put her in good stead for today.
She’s a gritty player with plenty of fight – she will be one to look out for in the coming years while this is really just the beginning of her journey to glory.
Li, showed great composure in her previous match after she almost became un-stuck. She has a great chance to capture the Australian Open crown with a third trip to the final.
Already a runner up twice in 2011 and 2013, she’s looking to go one more step and this time there is little standing in her way.
Like Bouchard, Li is a popular player with the fans with her great personality and fun post-match interviews.
While Bouchard will prove a good contender, look to Li to overcome the enthusiastic youngster early on.
Li Na in two.
Victoria Liu-Pearson
Roar Guru
Well, what a game. It was definitely a close game between two wonderful players who both deserved to be in this semi and even a final. Bouchard impressed throughout these two weeks. She's a strong girl and has plenty of god times ahead of her. Meanwhile Li has another shot at the crow, can she do it? Time will tell. Having already won one Grand Slam before so it's not out of the question. Been a great afternoon. Hopefully you all will be watching the next semi of the women's match to fid out who Li will play. Enjoy your day tennis fans!!
Victoria Liu-Pearson
Roar Guru
GAME SET MATCH Li! She wins in straight sets 6-2, 6-4 and is off to her 3rd Australian Open Final and 2nd year in a row! Congrats to Li Na. Great game from Bouchard. We shall keep an eye out for this young lady in the years to come
Victoria Liu-Pearson
Roar Guru
DOUBLE FAULT LI. Ouch!!! 30-30
Victoria Liu-Pearson
Roar Guru
She's almost there!
Victoria Liu-Pearson
Roar Guru
GAME BOUCHARD 5-4 2ND SET. Li can serve for the match next!!!
Victoria Liu-Pearson
Roar Guru
2 points away for Li
Victoria Liu-Pearson
Roar Guru
GAME LI 5-3 2ND SET. LI has gained control in the last game and a bit and now she's just 1 game away from her 3rd Australian Open Final. Can she end it now or will Bouchard force her to serve it
Victoria Liu-Pearson
Roar Guru
BREAK & GAME LI This is a set of breaking each other by Li and Genie. You get the feeling something has got to give soon...
Victoria Liu-Pearson
Roar Guru
3 BREAK POINTS LI
Victoria Liu-Pearson
Roar Guru
BREAK & GAME BOUCHARD 3-3 2ND SET.
Victoria Liu-Pearson
Roar Guru
both women are using the edges of the court extremely well. They are pushing the corners as much as they can and going very close to the lines.
Victoria Liu-Pearson
Roar Guru
Li got a bit of net love she had bouchard running al over the court but the ball went out anyway
Victoria Liu-Pearson
Roar Guru
GAME LI SHE GETS THE BREAK 3-2 A very composed and dominance from LI on Bouchaard's game there and Li's in front for the first time in this set
Victoria Liu-Pearson
Roar Guru
3 BREAK POINTS TO LI
Victoria Liu-Pearson
Roar Guru
GAME LI 2-2 2ND SET Li still having a bit of hard time with some of her timing and some shots. She holds though this set's gonna be tight
Victoria Liu-Pearson
Roar Guru
There were a duple of interesting shot choices from both woman in this game including what looked like flat bat cricket slap to the on-side!
Victoria Liu-Pearson
Roar Guru
BREAK POINT & GAME LI 2-1 After giving up the break Li gets it right back on a pretty por service game from Bouchard as well.
Victoria Liu-Pearson
Roar Guru
BREAK POINT, GAME BOUCHARD 2-0 2ND SET. It has taken a little over 10minutes but Bouchard broke her and gets a 2-0 game lead.
Victoria Liu-Pearson
Roar Guru
5th deuce of this 2nd game of the 2nd set.
Victoria Liu-Pearson
Roar Guru
Whoa that was a huge miss from Li! So much chance and room and she wasted it really