French Open winner Li Na marked the end of her late 2011 loss of form as the number five defeated Anabel Medina Garrigues with a comfortable 6-3, 6-1 scoreline as China played 1-1 level with Spain at the Hopman Cup on Tuesday.
The victory for the Grand Slam champion was the first time since August that the 29-year-old who made history in China with last June’s Roland Garros title had won back-to-back matches. But Spaniard Fernando Verdasco edged his tennis powerhouse nation right back into the tie as he beat Chinese battler Wu Di 6-3, 6-4.
The tie at the Burswood Dome will come down to the deciding mixed doubles rubber.
In the evening Group B session, host Australia will bid for a first win of this edition, with Lleyton Hewitt and Jarmila Gajdosova facing France with Richard Gasquet and Marion Bartoli.
Li was pleased to have posted her quick victory over Medina Garrigues, winner of all three of their previous matches. The Chinese, coached by her husband, added her Tuesday win to a winning start against Bartoli last Sunday. The Asian who won a mere six 2011 matches after her unexpected title breakthrough in Paris, fired 18 forehand winners.
“I’ve been working hard the last two days on the forehand,” said Li, who is listed as having played junior Hopman Cup in 1999 but professes no recollection of the experience. Wi, ranked 421, saved two Verdasco match points late in the second set before finally bowing to the former Top 10 Spaniard now ranked 24th. Verdasco took victory in 71 minutes.
“He plays fast with good hands,” said the winner. “I watched him practice last year in China at the Beijing event. I’m happy with the way I’m serving.
“I’m trying to play better every day and every match. This is good Australian Open preparation: you get guaranteed singles and doubles matches. After playing in Auckland next week I hope to have the perfect preparation.”
