Li Defeats Sharapova, Schiavone Over Bartoli To Advance to French Open Final

China’s Li Na has advanced to her second consecutive major tournament final with a 6-4, 7-5 victory in the first semifinal over Russian Maria Sharapova at Roland Garros on Thursday.

“Always tough against with Maria, said Li. “She (is) always fighting every point.  So even I have match point, I don’t know I can win the match or not, because she never give up.  Always tough.”

Li on advancing to her first French Open final, “another good experience for my whole career.  I think prove a little bit for China tennis, because, I mean, I’m sure they showed the match same time in China, so many  maybe children, they saw the match, and they think that maybe one day they can do the same or even better.”

“Of course Melbourne was more exciting because it’s first time to the final.  Here was because I have one time in the final already, so this time not so exciting.”

“First time to the final….so I just need one more step and then my dream is come true.” For Maria Sharapova she came within two matches of collecting a career slam, but was still pleased with her result: “ it’s been a good season on clay.  I had a great tournament in Rome, and I got to the semifinals here after not being in this stage of a Grand Slam for a long time.

“I’m quite proud of what I’ve achieved here, but I still feel like I have a lot of work to do.”

“I don’t have any doubt in the fact that I’ll be going out and working on some things and trying to improve, as always.

“Obviously it’s disappointing.  As an athlete you want to win.  There’s no doubt.  But, you know, good retail therapy and I’ll be fine.” (Smiling)

Sharapova commented on the match: “she certainly played a lot better than I did and a lot more solid, and, you know, she played the crucial points better.

“I had some chances in the first set on her serve, a couple of games that went deuce and had a couple of break points.  I felt like I had a short ball and just didn’t step in and then just made an unforced error.

“Then you kind of give your opponent confidence, and then, yeah, just and then at times I didn’t serve well, and, you know, was rushing more than maybe I had to, and maybe went for considering the conditions maybe I was just trying to go for, you know, too big of second serves, especially,” lamented Shrapova.

So why has Li been so successful on the court at the age of  29?  “Age just paper.  It’s just plus one.  Doesn’t mean anything for the age,” stated Li. Li said jokingly, “I know maybe for the Asia player they growing up for a little bit late for European player, but I’m think 29 is too late, too old.  I’m still feel I am young, so…”

As for the effect of her Roland Garros efforts in her homeland: “ I don’t know how much I can prove for China tennis, but I know if someone doing the final, if the children, they saw, oh, it’s not so bad; maybe some day they can doing better.”

“So they have the goal what they have to do.  So I don’t know how much I can prove, but I wish like tennis in China get bigger and bigger.”

Francesca Schiavone credits “inspiration” to her continued success at Roland Garros. Last years’s champion topped France’s Marion Bartoli 6-3, 6-3 to move on to the final on Saturday.

“When I was young I always dreamed this tournament,” said Schiavone “so maybe is coming from a long, long time ago. When I come here, I feel something special.”

“I think is great court.  There is no bounce different.  Of course is French Open, so is good for me.  I don’t know what to say.  Is good for me for spin, for different kind of balls.  I like to play high and then stop short. Everything mix.  I love it.”

Schiavone is looking forward to the final, “ I think Saturday I will go on the court enjoying, breathing, say thanks for everything, because for me to arrive in final is fantastic, is big emotions.

“And then play tennis.  Sometimes we forget to play tennis, and we go inside us and we break everything and we are upset.  But is just tennis.

“It’s fantastic.  And I have the chance to play good, because I play against a really tough opponent.  I think she’s playing one of the best tennis in her career from Australia.  She’s pushing strong physically, mentally.

“So I have to play I think 80%, 90%, 100% to win.”

Bartoli reflected on the loss: “Francesca played extremely well today with the conditions.  It was extremely windy, and I think she used those conditions extremely well.

“I really tried to hit the ball early as much as I could, but in spite of that, I really needed to adjust a lot to these balls.  I couldn’t stay in the middle of the court.  I had to move a lot, and physically it became difficult because I had to make much more effort than in my former matches.

“On my serve, when I was serving against the wind, I was able to be up in the score.  But when she was serving with the wind behind her, she had an advantage.

“So as I said, if I had been able to win that game and be 4‑All I think it would be different.  I think she played extremely well, and I believe her game is less affected by the wind than mine.”

Bartoli tips Schiavone to take the title again on Saturday, “Francesca feels really good here.  She’s very comfortable on that type of clay.  That clay really makes her spin very disturbing, so her game can really bother Li Na.

“And also, Francesca won here once, where Na Li didn’t win here yet, and she has less experience.  So that might give an advantage to Francesca.  I’m sure the match will be tight, but I think maybe Francesca is a favorite.”

Saturday’s final will pit 29 year-old Li versus 30 year-old Schiavone, to Schiavone age is not a number, “the years can help a lot.  The experience maybe are changing a little bit the age, because some years ago the champion were always young players:  Martina Hingis, the Williamses.  Now are changing.

“Like I said some days ago, is like the wine.  Stay in the bottle more is much, much better.  So is good to be there.  Li Na is, I just say before that she has a great performance with Sharapova today, and some days ago against Azarenka.  So I have to play really good and be strong here and physically.

“We are not similar like playing, but we are strong person, strong personality.  I play kicker, slice, and topspin.  She play much more with power.

“But the key can be the consistent and maybe attack or play deep.  Many small things can make the difference.”