Li Na clutches the Daphne Akhurst Memorial Cup following her triumph in Melbourne on Saturday.
Glory for Li in Melbourne —
Li Na clutches the Daphne Akhurst Memorial Cup following her triumph in Melbourne on Saturday.
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Li Na savors the moment of victory. The fourth seed in Melbourne overcame Slovakia's Dominika Cibulkova in straight sets 7-6 (7-3) 6-0 to win her first Australian Open title.
Moment of victory —
Li Na savors the moment of victory. The fourth seed in Melbourne overcame Slovakia's Dominika Cibulkova in straight sets 7-6 (7-3) 6-0 to win her first Australian Open title.
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The Slovakian shows off the runners up trophy to photographers at the Rod Laver Arena in Melbourne.
Cibulkova's silverware —
The Slovakian shows off the runners up trophy to photographers at the Rod Laver Arena in Melbourne.
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Li Na came through a scrappy first set, winning the tie break 7-3 before outplaying her Slovakian opponent in the second set.
Chinese hero —
Li Na came through a scrappy first set, winning the tie break 7-3 before outplaying her Slovakian opponent in the second set.
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Cibulkova was seeded 20th in Melbourne Park and downed a number of higher seeds to reach the final. The most notable victory came against no. 3 seed Maria Sharapova in the fourth round.
Fighting spirit —
Cibulkova was seeded 20th in Melbourne Park and downed a number of higher seeds to reach the final. The most notable victory came against no. 3 seed Maria Sharapova in the fourth round.
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Li Na beat the 19-year-old Canadian Eugenie Bouchard (pictured) in the semifinals on Thursday in straight sets 6-2 6-4. The fourth seed has reached the final in Melbourne three times.
Path to the final —
Li Na beat the 19-year-old Canadian Eugenie Bouchard (pictured) in the semifinals on Thursday in straight sets 6-2 6-4. The fourth seed has reached the final in Melbourne three times.
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By beating Poland's Agnieszka Radwanska (left) in the semifinals, Cibulkova eclipsed her best ever run in a grand slam tournament. In 2009, she reached the semifinal of the French Open but lost to Russia's Dinara Safina.
Cibulkova reaches first grand slam final —
By beating Poland's Agnieszka Radwanska (left) in the semifinals, Cibulkova eclipsed her best ever run in a grand slam tournament. In 2009, she reached the semifinal of the French Open but lost to Russia's Dinara Safina.
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Li dismissed Italy's Flavia Pennetta in straight sets 6-2 6-2 in the quarterfinals.
Pennetta sent packing —
Li dismissed Italy's Flavia Pennetta in straight sets 6-2 6-2 in the quarterfinals.
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Cibulkova had an equally convincing quarterfinal victory, beating Romania's Simona Halep (right) 6-3 6-0.
Cibulkova clobbers Halep —
Cibulkova had an equally convincing quarterfinal victory, beating Romania's Simona Halep (right) 6-3 6-0.
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Li dropped just one set on her way to the final -- against Lucie Safarova in the third round. But normal service was resumed against 22nd seed Ekaterina Makarova in the next round with a dominant 6-2 6-0 over the Russian.
Li-sy-peasy —
Li dropped just one set on her way to the final -- against Lucie Safarova in the third round. But normal service was resumed against 22nd seed Ekaterina Makarova in the next round with a dominant 6-2 6-0 over the Russian.
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No. 3 seed Maria Sharapova was Cibulkova's biggest scalp on route to the final. The Slovakian lost the first set but outplayed the Russian in the final two sets, eventually prevailing 3-6 6-4 6-1.
Sharapova suffers —
No. 3 seed Maria Sharapova was Cibulkova's biggest scalp on route to the final. The Slovakian lost the first set but outplayed the Russian in the final two sets, eventually prevailing 3-6 6-4 6-1.
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Serena Williams shows her frustration during her fourth round match with Ana Ivanovic. The American was hot favorite to win a sixth singles title in Melbourne but lost to the Serb in three sets 4-6 6-3 6-3 and dash any hopes of a clean sweep of the grand slams in 2014.
Williams suffers shock exit —
Serena Williams shows her frustration during her fourth round match with Ana Ivanovic. The American was hot favorite to win a sixth singles title in Melbourne but lost to the Serb in three sets 4-6 6-3 6-3 and dash any hopes of a clean sweep of the grand slams in 2014.
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